Extrinsic vs. Intrinsic Motivation...a Balance

In Chapter Four, Zadina states that intrinsic motivation is more powerful than extrinsic motivation.  I have applied this theory in my classes this week:

Extrinsic:
In a class of 8 students, I offered each student's candy choice if all lines were memorized prior to a dress rehearsal.

Intrinsic:
In a class of 7 students working on similar material as the first class, I kept repeating this phrase: "If you don't know your lines, and the rest of the cast does, who will look silly onstage?"

In the extrinsic group, 3/8 were completely "off-book" and memorized.
In the intrinsic group, 7/7 were completely "off-book" and memorized.


While my intrinsic group were clearly more motivated to achieve, I do see the benefit in extrinsic motivation as well. I will never forget my mother's sticker chart for memorization of multiplication facts.  She had given me a deal regarding my multiplication fluency: learn all of your times tables through 12x12 and we will take a family trip to Disney World.  Man, I wanted to see Mickey Mouse SO BADLY, so in a few short weeks, I could complete rapid fire drills correctly. (I didn't have to know that she and my father were already planning this trip!)

-Jamie Hipp