Exploring the Experiences of Upper Elementary School Children Who are Intrinsically Motivated to Seek Information

This paper describes a naturalistic research study based on the following question, “what are the experiences in the lives of upper elementary school children that foster an intrinsic motivation to seek information?” Participants were ten-year-olds selected using a specially-created survey. Analysis, based on data collected through interviews and drawings, indicates that students came from various family and socioeconomic backgrounds, exhibited an affinity for play, and tended to be creative and non-competitive. A point-of-passion experience occurred in the lives of all of the informants, as well as the presence of “anchor” relationships. Students specified components of intrinsically motivating information seeking episodes.