The effects of an intrinsically motivating instructional environment on software learning and acceptance
Authors: Davis, S.; Bostrom, R. P.
Journal: Information Systems Journal (1994)
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2575.1994.tb00040.x
<jats:p><jats:bold>Abstract</jats:bold> The most important goal of computer software training and interface design has been to help users learn and use software effectively. While research has provided useful information about how to achieve this outcome, it appears to have overlooked the contribution that ‘fun’ and ‘motivation’ can add to learning. This study develops and tests a model of the relationship between intrinsically motivating software instruction and two outcome variables — learning performance and perceived ease of software use. The researchers manipulated two design variables to create learning environments that were either high or low in intrinsic motivation. One variable, the computer interface, consisted of either a direct manipulation interface (the Macintosh Finder), defined as being high in intrinsic motivation, or a command‐based interface (disk operating system — DOS), which was less motivating. The second design variable, training method, also consisted of two categories — exploration training (more motivating) and instruction‐based training (less motivating). Additionally, the study evaluated the motivational impact of one individual characteristic — cogni…