We replicated and extended prior research investigating a theoretically guided intervention based on expectancy-value theory designed to enhance student learning outcomes (e.g., Hulleman & Harackiewicz, 2009). First, we replicated prior work by demonstrating that the utility value intervention, which manipulated whether students made connections between the course material and their lives, increased both interest and performance of low-performing students in a college general education course. Second, we extended prior research by both measuring and manipulating one possible pathway of intervention effects: the frequency with which students make connections between the material and their lives. In Study 1, we measured connection frequency and found that making more connections was positively related to expecting to do well in the course, valuing the course material, and continuing interest. In Study 2, we manipulated connection frequency by developing an enhanced utility value intervention designed to increase the frequency with which students made connections. The results indicated that students randomly assigned to either utility value intervention, compared with the control condition, subsequently became more confident that they could learn the material, which led to increased course performance. The utility value interventions were particularly effective for the lowest-performing students. Compared with those in the control condition who showed a steady decline in performance across the semester, low-performing male students randomly assigned to the utility value conditions increased their performance across the semester. The difference between the utility value and control conditions for lowperforming male students was strongest on the final exam (d ϭ .76).

Motivation plays a critical role in human behavior and is particularly important during college, where a single class can make or break an academic career. The longitudinal research on expectancies for success and utility value primarily focuses on prediction or change over many years, rather than change over a short period of time. However, a single class in college can often be the difference between getting a degree or not. To better understand how motivation progresses in the short-term, we examined changes in expectancy and utility value simultaneously during a single college class. Both constructs declined during the class and showed significant variability across individuals. In addition, change in expectancy was strongly correlated with change in utility value, and the expectancy slope estimates were significant predictors of continuing interest. We discuss the need for a better understanding of short-term dynamic relationships between expectancies, utility value, and outcomes.

We present validity evidence for the Expectancy-Value-Cost (EVC) Scale of student motivation. Using a brief, 10-item scale, we measured middle school students’ expectancy, value, and cost for their math and science classes in the Fall and Winter of the same academic year. Confirmatory factor analyses supported the three-factor structure of the EVC Scale, as well as measurement invariance across gender, academic domain, and time. Predictions of the EVC Scale’s relationship with domain-specific future interest and prior achievement provide convergent and discriminant validity evidence. The practical utility of the survey is highlighted by the short administration time and the alignment between observed and latent means, indicating that practitioners can use raw scores rather than latent values. Finally, we discuss methods of how to use the EVC Scale to provide actionable information for educational practitioners, such as identifying which motivation interventions are most needed for students and if those interventions are working.

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