curiosity about the subject matter itself, manifested
through their pursuit of knowledge and inquisitive
approach to problem-solving. In contrast, extrinsic
motivation predominantly derives from external
incentives, including academic recognition,
performance evaluations, and relative standing
among peers.
Studies have shown that intrinsic motivation has
significant advantages in pushing students to carry
out deep learning (Saeid & Eslaminejad, 2017;
Eccles & Wigfield, 2002). Deep learning means that
in the learning process, students not only pay
attention to the memory and repetition of knowledge,
but also pay more attention to understanding the
nature of knowledge, establishing connections
between knowledge, and applying it to solve practical
problems. For example, students who focus on
mastering knowledge tend to be able to participate
more actively in class discussions, complete tasks
autonomously, and show greater perseverance in the
face of difficulties. In contrast, students who rely
solely on extrinsic motivation may excel in the short
term, but their academic performance may fluctuate
in the long term due to a lack of intrinsic interest in
learning.
In addition, the role of motivation may vary across
disciplines and learning tasks. For example, because
the knowledge points of science and engineering are
more systematic and logical, students' intrinsic
motivation is crucial to their long-term learning
(Ugwuanyi et al., 2020). This is because the
knowledge structure of science and engineering
subjects is often highly coherent and complex, and
students need to master the knowledge system
through in-depth understanding and logical
reasoning. If students lack intrinsic motivation and
rely solely on extrinsic rewards such as test scores, it
may be difficult to consistently invest time and
energy in understanding complex knowledge
structures, resulting in poor learning outcomes. On
the contrary, intrinsic motivation can stimulate
students' desire to explore knowledge, encourage
them to think actively and solve problems, so as to
better grasp the core content of science and
technology subjects. In the humanities, which require
creativity and expression skills, extrinsic motivation
such as teacher encouragement and rewards may be
more effective in stimulating students' performance
(Ugwuanyi et al., 2020). Therefore, teachers should
fully consider the subject characteristics and adopt
flexible incentive strategies when designing
curriculum and evaluation system.
3.2 Influence of Self-Efficacy on
Academic Achievement
A high level of self-efficacy can help students show
more persistence and initiative in learning. Studies
have shown that self-efficacy can not only improve
students' ability to choose learning strategies, but also
enhance their ability to regulate emotions, especially
in the face of failures and challenges (Bandura, 1997;
Pajares, 1996: Zimmerman, 2000).
First, students with high self-efficacy tend to
choose more active learning styles, such as setting
clear learning goals, adopting effective time
management methods, and actively seeking help.
These strategies can help students complete learning
tasks more efficiently, thereby enhancing their
academic achievement.
Second, self-efficacy plays an important role in
emotion management. Emotional regulation
encompasses an individual's capacity to monitor,
evaluate, and modify emotional responses
effectively. Research indicates that students
demonstrating robust self-efficacy typically possess
enhanced emotional regulation skills, enabling them
to more effectively manage and mitigate adverse
psychological states, including academic anxiety and
learning-related depression, throughout their
educational journey. For example, when students
encounter difficult problems in exams, students with
high self-efficacy will relieve stress through positive
self-suggestion or adjustment of mentality, while
students with low self-efficacy may fall into anxiety,
affecting subsequent performance.
In addition, there may be significant differences in
self-efficacy among students in different grades.
Students in the primary stage are usually less familiar
with learning tasks, and their self-efficacy is easily
affected by external factors, such as teacher's
evaluation or peer feedback. Senior students rely
more on their own experience and ability perception,
which also requires educators to design personalized
support and incentives according to the
characteristics of students' grades (Zhou, 2015; Mo,
2021).
3.3 Interaction Between Learning
Motivation and Self-Efficacy
Learning motivation and self-efficacy do not exist
independently, but affect academic achievement
through interaction. On the one hand, strong learning
motivation can promote students to establish positive
self-efficacy. For example, after students devote
themselves to learning tasks and achieve certain
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