Real-time motivation and engagement during a month at school: Every moment of every day for every student matters

•Focus on intensive intra-individual real-time longitudinal motivation and engagement data•A 4-level model: within-day, between-day, between-week, between-student ratings•Substantial intra-individual variance exists, as does between-student variation.•There was not so much variability between days and not much between weeks.•For optimal motivation, every moment of every day for every student matters.

This study collected intensive intra-individual real-time longitudinal motivation and engagement data using mobile electronic devices for one month. A four-level model consisted of within-day ratings at the first level (3 ratings per day), between-day ratings at the second level (5 days per week), between-week ratings at the third level (4 weeks), and between-student ratings at the fourth level (60 possible time points per student). After controlling for socio-demographics and prior achievement, multilevel modeling showed substantial within-day (intra-individual) variability in motivation and engagement (M = 23%) and substantial between-student variability (M = 67%). There was not so much variability between days (M = 3%) — and not so much between weeks (M = 6%). Linear and non-linear (quadratic) effects through the day, week, and month were predominantly non-significant. It is concluded that for optimal motivation and engagement to occur and be sustained, every moment of every day for every student matters.