Identifying and understanding the motivations of students reading economics at university

An Economics Network funded project, 2008-9

Institution: London Metropolitan University
Project leader: Gherardo Girardi

My superficial scans of student motivations suggest that most students are so called instrumental learners rather than deep learners, i.e. they tend to study economics not because of a deep interest in the subject per se, but rather as a means to some end(s), some in the present and some in the future, some monetary and some not. But what if the problems that we face in motivating students are not due to the content of our modules, nor to the techniques that we employ? What if the cause is deeper - what if the students have not identified at a deep level why they have chosen to study economics? To answer this question, I am thinking of using with my students a model that is used in teacher training, as well as considering to ask the students to identify who their economics role models might be. The idea is that, if they can identify a role model, it will be easier for them to be aware of their deeper motivations. In applying the two methods, I intend to interview students at different stages of their degrees, and with varying extent of exposure to economics in their degrees.

Output: Project Final Report