Support for the second assumption, i.e. that the authentic character of the problems results in higher levels of student interest, can be found in a study by Rotgans et al. (2010). In their study they examined whether there are differences in students’ interest between a problem-based learning and a conventional, direct-instruction, primary school mathematics classroom. The results showed that the problem-based group, which worked on an authentic problem, was significantly more interested in a particular subject than the direct- instruction group that worked on more abstract mathematical examples and definitions of the same subject.
The third assumption, namely that autonomy in learning leads to more extensive cog- nitive engagement, has not been studied to the same extent as the previous ones. Following suggestions in the self-determination literature, Deci (1992) has proposed that classrooms that promote student autonomy and choice increase student’s engagement with the task at hand (see also Cordova and Lepper 1996). Deci et al. (1991) pointed out that choice has a positive effect on interest and engagement because people have an innate psychological need for competence, belonging, and autonomy. In self-determination research, having a choice is a means to satisfy that need for autonomy. In the PBL classroom students have the choice to determine what they wish to study (i.e. select their own learning goals and conduct their individual self-study), which, according to self-determination theory, should lead to a feeling of autonomy. Feeling autonomous and empowered in the classroom is expected to have a motivating effect encouraging students to engage themselves cogni- tively with the task at hand. Following this line of thought, we hypothesized that when students feel autonomous (from the tutor and the team members) they would display more