Isaac Scientific Publishing

Journal of Advances in Education Research

Situational Interest and Actualized Individual Interest: Two Problematic Constructs

Download PDF (171.7 KB) PP. 110 - 112 Pub. Date: August 14, 2019

DOI: 10.22606/jaer.2019.43002

Author(s)

  • David Palmer*
    School of Education, University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia

Abstract

Interest is currently thought to be an important construct that it can influence student
motivation. It has widely been recognized that there are long-term and short-term forms of interest
(often referred to as individual interest and situational interest, respectively), but it has not always
been recognized that these may interact. For example, the term actualized individual interest can be
used to refer to the arousal of interest that occurs when educational material aligns with one’s preexisting
individual interest. This form of interest is important because it results in high level and
persistent engagement in learning, yet it is not a widely studied phenomenon. The purpose of the
present commentary is to bring attention to this important construct, with the aim of promoting
conversation among researchers.

Keywords

individual interest, situational interest

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