Which approach to motivation best supports intrinsic motivation by allowing students to succeed with effort?

• A. Providing tasks that students can successfully complete with effort.
• B. Offering frequent external rewards.
• C. Giving constant tests.
• D. Reducing feedback.

Answer: (A)

Intrinsic motivation thrives when effort leads to meaningful progress. Providing tasks that students can successfully complete with effort creates that connection: students experience competence as they master each step, and autonomy grows because progress comes from their own persistence. When students repeatedly see that showing up and trying hard pays off, their interest in the material becomes self-sustaining rather than driven by rewards or fear of failure. In contrast, external rewards can shift focus away from learning to the reward, constant testing can create anxiety and a performance focus, and reducing feedback leaves students unsure how to improve, which dampens intrinsic motivation. The result is learners who choose to engage and persist because the activity feels personally rewarding rather than demanded.