Abstract
The purpose of this explanatory mixed methods study was to understand how 9th grade honors and general education language arts students made course enrollment decisions through the lens of the Expectancy-Value (E-V) theory. A survey was administered to 9th grade students (N = 118) attending a public high school with the overall mean score indicating fairly high reading motivation. A point biserial correlation analysis was conducted next to determine any significant correlations between course selection and the E-V expectancies for success and task values. Attainment was the only task value reporting a positive and statistically significant correlation. Six students with either high, medium, or low reading motivation were interviewed from which four themes emerged: expectancy for success and reader identity, utility and usefulness of reading in the future, cost and enjoyment associated with reading, and attainment and course enrollment decisions. Implications and recommendations for educators and researchers are provided.
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