Reference no: EM132926331

Ralph has a not-so-good background in mathematics. His high school teachers were not strong, and Ralph did not really put much into his math subjects. His aptitude tests almost always suggest he is better in non-math related areas. When he came to USM as a freshman, Ralph put off taking any math in his first year and made B's and C's in all of his courses. But in the fall of his sophomore year, he registered for finite math. To encourage his son to do well in finite, Ralph's dad told him he would pay for a 3-day skiing trip to Colorado in December if he made a B or better. Ralph said he would enjoy such a trip, but he actually was not all that enthusiastic about it. But one thing he knows for sure, his father is a man of his word.

Use expectancy theory as your frame of reference.

a. What is Ralph's probable level of motivation in the finite math course when the semester started?

b. What are all the reasons why his motivation is at the level you indicated in part a?

c. What all could be done (be specific) to raise Ralph's motivation to a higher level?

d. Of the suggestions you made in part c, which one do you believe would have the greatest impact?