title: Motivational processes from expectancy-value theory are associated with variability in the error positivity in young children.
abstract: Motivational beliefs and values influence how children approach challenging activities. The current study explored motivational processes from an expectancy-value theory framework by studying children's mistakes and their responses to them by focusing on two event-related potential (ERP) components: the error-related negativity (ERN) and the error positivity (Pe). Motivation was assessed using a child-friendly challenge puzzle task and a brief interview measure prior to ERP testing. Data from 50 4- to 6-year-old children revealed that greater perceived competence beliefs were related to a larger Pe, whereas stronger intrinsic task value beliefs were associated with a smaller Pe. Motivation was unrelated to the ERN. Individual differences in early motivational processes may reflect electrophysiological activity related to conscious error awareness.
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. Electronic address: mattkim@uoregon.edu.
authors.forename: Matthew H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Loren M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Marulis
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Jennie K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Grammer
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Frederick J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Gehring
mesh_terms: D059031:Anticipation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D001290:Attitude; D001364:Awareness / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Children; Error positivity; Error-related negativity; Expectancy; Motivation; Value