Learning to Get Out of the Wing - The Motivations of Learners Incarcerated in Québec Provincial Prisons

Authors

• Frédérick Armstrong, Cégep Marie-VictorinFollow

Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0277-817X

Keywords

Education in prison, Learning motivations, Quebec provincial prisons, social-determination theory

Abstract

41 men and women incarcerated in the Québec provincial prison system were asked why they enrolled in educational activities. Relying on self-determination theory’s to describe and categorize their motivations, we found that most respondents had extrinsic motivations to participate in educational activities and that only three respondents could be described as intrinsically motivated. Respondents joined programmes to escape boredom, to receive financial compensation or to receive some other benefits; not for the pleasure of learning. These results are different from other research reporting that a majority of incarcerated learners were intrinsically motivated. After addressing this contrast and arguing that it is related to methodological and definition issues, I conclude it is more likely that most incarcerated learners are initially motivated by extrinsic factors. However, our data also shows that motivation can change and deepen during participation. In this context, education practitioners should not try to avoid attracting learners with financial incentives or other extrinsic motivators. Learning simply to get out of the wing is as good a reason as any.

Author Bio

Frédérick Armstrong is Chairholder of the UNESCO Chair in Applied Research for Education in Prison at Cégep Marie-Victorin in Montréal. His work focuses on the right of vulnerable populations, including those who are incarcerated, qualitative social research and the meaning and effects of education in prison.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.25771/0ypj-fg28