Neither choice nor utility value manipulations improve end-of-session regression test performance, and the two manipulations do not interact¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (2 entries) · causal r? · q3
Currency · newest study 2025 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i? There was no significant effect of the utility value manipulation on performance (d = 0.03, p = .463) nor of the choice manipulation (d = 0.04, p = .458). → Asher 2025 q3 i? Across Studies 3 and 4 (combined N = 773), there were no significant utility value × choice interactions for any outcome (ps ≥ .382). → Asher 2025 (2)

Evidence¶

Asher 2025¶

Asher, M. W., & Harackiewicz, J. M. (2025). Using Choice and Utility Value to Promote Interest: Stimulating Situational Interest in a Lesson and Fostering the Development of Interest in Statistics. Journal of Educational Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000921

q3 · i? · causal · r?

Meta-regression across Studies 1–7 on the twelve-minute timed regression test found no significant effect of either manipulation on performance; neither manipulation interacted with baseline confidence or interest (ps ≥ .523).

"Relative to control, there was no significant effect of the directly-communicated utility value manipulation on performance, d = 0.03, p = .463, nor was there an effect of the choice manipulation, d = 0.04, p = .458."

Asher 2025 (2)¶

Asher, M. W., & Harackiewicz, J. M. (2025). Using Choice and Utility Value to Promote Interest: Stimulating Situational Interest in a Lesson and Fostering the Development of Interest in Statistics. Journal of Educational Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000921

q3 · i? · causal · r?

Meta-analyzed D-UV × Choice interaction coefficients from Studies 3 and 4 (combined N = 773) showed no significant interactions for any outcome, consistent with additive rather than redundant combined effects.

"For all outcomes, there were no significant interactions between the two manipulations, ps ≥ .382."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Effects on maintained situational interest and resource requests are mediated by perceived utility value (utility value manipulation) and perceived autonomy and triggered interest (choice manipulation) — related
• Both choice and utility value manipulations increase maintained situational interest in regression by similar small amounts — related
• Directly-communicated utility value increases beliefs about the usefulness of regression, unmoderated by baseline confidence or interest — related
• Utility value manipulation, but not choice, increases voluntary requests for statistics resources, a behavioral indicator of emerging individual interest — related
• Providing meaningful choice during a lesson increases perceived autonomy and triggered situational interest in undergraduates learning statistics — related
• Choice decreases self-reported distraction during the lesson, while utility value's effect on distraction depends on baseline interest in statistics — related