Importance

Ormrod (2008, p. 453) cites the following as "general effects of motivation:"

• An increase in one's vigor and activity
• Increased incidence of setting and striving toward attaining goals
• Personal initiation and persistence of tasks
• Enhancement of attention, meaningful learning, and active thinking which all lead to a more successful learning experience              

These points combine to produce the result of why motivation is important:  motivation spurs a person to set a goal, initiate movement in the direction of the goal, and persist regardless of failures and setbacks.