Spotlight on the RDF: 1.8 Motivated

Are you motivated?

I think it’s unlikely that many of you answered this question with a simple “yes” or “no”. Much more likely is that you said something like “sometimes” or “it’s complicated”.

Motivation describes a range of internal forces which influence our actions, and understanding our own motivations can help us target our actions towards the things we want to achieve. Motivation might be intrinsic, where internal motivations such as enjoyment, curiosity or satisfaction are most important, or extrinsic, where external factors such as praise, rewards or avoiding punishment come to the fore. In practice, particularly for substantial, long-term activities, both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation are likely to work together, varying in importance at different phases of the activity.

What does this mean in the context of research?

Vitae’s Researcher Development Framework (RDF) 2025 descriptor summary for 1.8 Motivated says that an effective researcher is a motivated, independent thinker, who is determined and committed to research. Let’s have a look at Phase 1, which articulates what this means in practice for PGRs:

1. With appropriate support, maintains focus and determination to achieve personal or project goals.
2. Develops strategies to stay motivated and manage routine or repetitive aspects of work.
3. Builds confidence and ability to work increasingly independently.

The first thing to notice is that the RDF is very clear that appropriate support is essential to maintaining your focus and determination. Think carefully about what that support looks like for you. Here are some ideas for the people who might be able to provide this kind of support:

• your supervisory team
• your School, College, or wider PGR community
• your friends and family
• your local Wellbeing Officers

However, “support” in this context also includes supportive practices such as setting clear and realistic goals, managing your working hours to include regular breaks, and taking holidays.

The RDF also invites you to develop your own strategies for staying motivated. These strategies will be very personal to you, and a good understanding of your personal motivations, both intrinsic and extrinsic, will help. Reflect on occasions when you have felt very highly motivated; what was spurring you on at that time and what conditions made that possible?

For example, if you are most highly motivated in advance of externally-set deadlines, discuss with your supervisory team the possibility of clear and regular deadlines, and ask them to hold you accountable to these. If you feel most enthusiastic about your work when you are sharing it with others, take up opportunities to do so, such as departmental seminars, disciplinary conferences, or public engagement activities (like 3MT or the PGR Festival!). What works for you will be different for everyone.

Research has a lot of ups and downs, and motivation levels can vary dramatically over the course of a research programme. Be kind to yourself, and apply strategies that work for you to build your confidence and ability to achieve your goals. Motivation isn’t something you either have or don’t have – you can actively build it, with appropriate support.