The primary purpose of this investigation was to examine differences in the motivational orientation of higher- and lower-achieving Puerto Rican children. The Intrinsic versus Extrinsic Orientation Scale (Harter, 1980) was administered to 28 higher-achieving and 29 lower-achieving fifth-grade and sixth-grade mainland Puerto Rican students in their homes. The higher-achieving and lower-achieving children were chosen by their most recent standardized test scores, The Iowa Test of Basic Skills. Statistical analyses revealed significant differences in motivational orientation between higher-achieving and lower-achieving students. Avenues for further research are explored, as are implications for classroom teachers and parents.
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