Expectancy and intrinsic value: Interactions and reciprocal relations with achievement and career aspirations in science

Previous studies show that expectancy and intrinsic value can motivate achievement and aspirations. Studies examining reciprocal relations that also consider how achievement and aspirations can reinforce expectancy and intrinsic value are lacking. The present study examined reciprocal relations between expectancy and intrinsic value, accounting for their interaction, and achievement and aspirations. The sample comprised 1239 students (488 males, mean age of 12.4 years) who, over four waves, self-reported expectancy and intrinsic value twice, and took a science test and reported aspirations twice. Positive reciprocal relations were found between intrinsic value and aspirations; expectancy amplified the relation between intrinsic value and aspirations. Expectancy positively predicted aspirations but not vice versa. Achievement predicted expectancy and intrinsic value beyond prior levels, but not vice versa. Findings imply mutual benefit from interventions to boost expectancy and intrinsic value to benefit subsequent aspirations, and interventions to boost achievement and aspirations with downstream benefits for intrinsic value. In a sample of early adolescent students, a time when many begin to lose interest in science, we found that viewing science as interesting and enjoyable (intrinsic value) went hand in hand with students' hopes to study higher-level science courses or pursue science-related careers. We found a similar pattern for achievement: doing well in science was linked to intrinsic value and expecting to succeed in the future, although these effects were mostly explained by past performance. This suggests that educators may benefit from supporting both students' intrinsic value of science and their future aspirations at the same time, so each strengthens the other. A similar, though more cautious, conclusion applies to achievement and expectation of future success, which may also reinforce one another over time. • Positive reciprocal relations were shown between intrinsic value and aspirations. • Expectancy positively predicted aspirations but not vice versa. • Expectancy amplified positive relations between intrinsic value and aspirations. • Expectancy and intrinsic value did not predict achievement beyond prior levels. • Achievement predicted expectancy and intrinsic value beyond prior levels.