One area of the learning sciences that educational psychology contributes to is motivation in learning. Scholars such as Carol Dweck have explored how students’ beliefs about intelligence—whether they see it as fixed or malleable—affect their motivation, effort, and achievement. Dweck’s Growth Mindset Theory provides strong evidence that when learners believe their abilities can be developed through practice and persistence, they are more likely to embrace challenges and recover from setbacks.

Educational psychology offers both theoretical and empirical insights in this area. The Self-Determination Theory by Deci and Ryan also explains how intrinsic motivation grows when students’ needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness are met. Research supports that classrooms fostering these conditions lead to greater engagement and long-term learning success.

Through these frameworks, educational psychology helps us interpret how motivation operates not only as a personal trait but as a response to social and emotional conditions shaped by teachers, peers, and learning environments.