Chapter 4: Personal Investment Theory: A Cross-Cultural Framework for the Study of Student Motivation

The goal of this chapter is to give an overview of the theoretical underpinnings and empirical evidence for personal investment (PI) theory. To do so, we first present the historical backdrop against which PI theory emerged and then document its basic theoretical assumptions. Given the centrality of culture in PI theory, we examine this concept more closely and provide evidence of how PI researchers have examined motivation in diverse sociocultural contexts. We then move to mapping directions for future research as PI theory enters into its third decade. Finally, we reflect on how the complex perspective and the close attention to contextual (cultural) factors favored by PI researchers have enriched motivational theorizing.