Gaps in contemporary motivation research: a biopsychological perspective

Traditional self-report surveys of motivation, such as questionnaires, may not be specific enough to provide valid and precise measurement of motivation. These limitations can significantly hamper motivation assessment, research, and practical interventions. While currently underutilized, biopsychology can inform and supplement traditional motivation research to better explain how and why students go about their schoolwork. This essay explores two areas of biopsychological research in the context of student motivation: psychophysiology (e.g., via heart rate, cortisol, electrodermal activity) and neuroscience (e.g., via electroencephalogram). Psychophysiological and neuropsychological perspectives can augment current research and practice in all of the following ways: motivation assessment; motivation theory; motivation intervention; and expanded breadth, reach, and relevance of motivation in schools.