The purpose of this study was to investigate the motivational characteristics of 3 groups of adolescents: students with learning disabilities (LD), students with emotional or behavioral disorders (EBD), and students with average achievement (AA). Three questionnaires, the Motivation Orientation scale, the Purposes of School scale, and the Motivated Strategies for Learning questionnaire were administered to junior high and middle school students with LD and EBD, and to an age-matched group of students with AA. These self-report measures were administered to students in small groups in one session of approximately 35 to 40 minutes. Significant differences on the Motivation Orientation scale were detected among the groups. Differences on the Purposes of School scale approached but did not reach significance. Students with LD appeared to be more alienated and oriented to avoiding work than students with AA or students with EBD. Students with EBD reported significantly more feelings of test anxiety than did students with LD or AA. Gender differences emerged, with females reporting more support for self-sacrifice, community spirit, and persistence, whereas male students reported more feelings of alienation. Implications for future research and classroom practice are discussed.
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