Question

Use the concepts and principles from expectancy theory to illustrate how you personally chose to work harder (or less hard) in a particular course. Make sure you utilize the concepts of expectancy, valence, and instrumentality.

Answer 1

I choose to work harder because it is more likely that it will bring me closer to my goals than not working hard at all.

To explain this in terms of the expectancy theory, working hard (expectancy) is most going to help me get into a good grad school program and eventually find a job that is fulfilling and pays well. That is the goal. So, making sure I submit assignments on time, getting an internship for the summer, and doing well in all the tests assigned are all performance-based activities that comprise the instrumentality aspect of the expectancy theory.

After graduation, if I get into a grad school program of my choice, that would be the valence aspect of the expectancy theory. i.e the reward for all the hard work.