Can ‘Reward and Punishment’ Improve Student Motivation?

Abstract

Learning activities in the classroom will be effective if students are actively involved and enthusiastic in learning. However, effective learning cannot be implemented due to many factors, such as a lack of student motivation. A lack of motivation has been one of the most frustrating obstacles to student learning by teachers. This study identifies the effect and role of reward and punishment by teachers in improving student motivation during classroom learning. This study used an experimental method. Two eleven classes were randomly selected as the experimental class and the control class. This experiment was carried out on Indonesian subjects in a public school in South Lampung, Indonesia. The learning motivation indicators used in the questionnaire include the desire to succeed, the motivation and need for learning, future hopes and aspirations, rewards in learning, interesting learning activities, and a conducive learning environment. Data were analyzed using the instrument test and Theta correlation coefficient test. The results showed that the implementation of reward and punishment had a positive effect on student motivation. The reward and punishment method engages students to be active in various activities, giving rewards as appreciation and punishment as a trigger not to fail, resulting in increased learning motivation. Teachers can use the findings of the current study as a reference and a way to improve student motivation for effective and meaningful learning.