scholarly journals Self-determination motivation theory in R: The software package S D T

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Ünlü

AbstractThis paper presents the technical details of the software package SDT in the R computing and graphics environment, implementing a convex quadratic program that was recently proposed in the literature on self-determination theory of human motivation. Three main features are addressed, with their accompanying code for computation in R: first, the application of the quadratic program and corresponding code for the analysis of the extent of motivation internalization or externalization; second, for exploring the simplex structure assumption of motivation; and third, for adjusting the confounded scoring protocol, called the self-determination or relative autonomy index, to account for the mixture of internal motivation and external motivation. We describe the functions of the R package SDT. The computations are demonstrated with example data accompanying the package, so researchers can run the methodology on their own datasets.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Ünlü

This paper presents the technical details of the software package SDT in the R computing and graphics environment, implementing a convex quadratic program that was recently proposed in the literature on self-determination theory of human motivation. Three main features are addressed, with their accompanying code for computation in R: first, the application of the quadratic program and corresponding code for the analysis of the extent of motivation internalization or externalization; second, for exploring the simplex structure assumption of motivation; and third, for adjusting the confounded scoring protocol, called the self-determination or relative autonomy index, to account for the mixture of internal motivation and external motivation. We describe the functions of the R package SDT. The computations are demonstrated with example data accompanying the package, so researchers can run the methodology on their own datasets.



2015 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 222-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dusana Sarcevic

This paper has tested the most frequently used instrument for assessing academic motivation in adolescents, which measures seven aspects of motivation in accordance with the self-determination theory. In the first version of this questionnaire, four factors were singled out in the Serbian sample. Based on the first version, the second one was made under the name AMS, containing 32 items with five-degree categories of answers ranging from total disagreement to total agreement. The AMS questionnaire was administered on the convenient sample of 1.106 respondents aged 10 to 15 of both genders (51% female). Four factors were extracted, defined as Internal motivation, External motivation, Introjected motivation and Amotivation. The self-determination continuum has not been confirmed completely since some dimensions have a different status of self-determination than it was expected, while psychometric characteristics of the scales proved to be very good. Compared to the first version, this version of the questionnaire has better psychometric characteristics, reflects more clearly the theoretical assumption about the aspects of academic motivation and partially confirms its continuum. Hence, it can be stated that the AMS questionnaire is a good enough indicator of academic motivation in early adolescence.



2017 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-30
Author(s):  
Aleksandar Vasic

The self-determination theory presumes several types of motivation distributed along the theoretical continuum. On the other side, certain research studies point to the need for cognition which is the source of internal motivation, as one of the aforementioned types of motivation. This theoretical and conceptual closeness served as an impetus for the research conducted on the convenient sample of 364 students of both genders (59% of female respondents), aged 18 to 35 (M=20.05; SD=1.52). In generating the data, the Academic Motivation Scale for Students (AMS-SI) and the shortened version of the Need for Cognition Scale (NFCS-S) were used. During data analysis, we first checked the internal metric characteristics of the scales and quantitatively defined the features measured by these instruments. In locating the need for cognition within the academic motivation space, hierarchical multiple regression analysis and multidimensional scaling were used. Four valid and reliable dimensions of student academic motivation were defined as internal, introjected and external motivation, and amotivation. One dominant, reliable and valid main subject of measuring of the need for cognition scale was defined as well. In the common space of academic motivation and the need for cognition, internal motivation clearly stands out as the basic correlate of this need. Future research should further reexamine the assumption of the self-determination theory about three basic psychological needs vital for the development of motivation.



Author(s):  
Maarten Vansteenkiste ◽  
Anja Van den Broeck

Although the role of motivation has been emphasized in the field of unemployment and job search, the motivational dynamics underlying unemployed individuals’ behavior have not yet received the attention they deserve. In this chapter, we present a motivational perspective grounded in self-determination theory (SDT), a macrotheory focusing on human motivation in the social context. We discuss basic principles of SDT and formulate seven propositions that have direct relevance for the fields of unemployment and job search. In discussing these propositions, we elucidate similarities and differences between SDT and various frameworks in the unemployment and job search literature and cover the available empirical evidence in the realm of SDT in these fields. Given that the literatures on job search and unemployment have been developed fairly independently, we conclude that SDT represents a promising theory to bridge these two fields and may equally provide useful guidelines for practitioners in the field.



2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (51) ◽  
pp. 57-67
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Witoszek-Kubicka

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: The main purpose of the article is to select the elements of games that increase the student’s external and internal motivation tailored to the specific type of player he/she represents. THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: The research problem is the issue of motivating students using gamification. The author addresses the issue of preparation of classes that will actually translate into motivation to learn practical skills, but also to develop, pose difficult questions and engage in the learning process. The research is based on the Self-Determination Theory and Marczewski gamification users typology. The basic method used in the presented research is an analysis of a questionnaire conducted among students of the Cracow University of Economics. THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: The article consists of two main parts. The first presents the concept of gamification and its use in motivating. Second part of the article is divided into three subsections. First of them contains characteristics of different participants types in gamification projects. Second of them presents assumption and research hypotheses, the other one includes analysis of the results and conclusions of the study. RESEARCH RESULTS: Thanks to the conducted research and based on the subject literature, the predispositions of students to accept the use of selected mechanisms known from games were determined. The conducted research confirmed the assumed hypothesis that the legitimacy of using particular elements of gamification depends on the target group of participants. However, the hypothesis of ineffectiveness of the use of elements specific to the type of player was not confirmed. CONCLUSIONS, INNOVATIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Further research is needed to verify this assumption, e.g. using a gamification project. Due to the limited research sample, the results do not reflect the entire population, but provide a basis for further research on the motivational elements of individual participants.





2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luke Brownlow

BACKGROUND Smartphone applications (apps) are an ideal tool that is highly accessible to people who wish to begin self-treatment for depression. While many studies have performed content analyses on healthcare apps, few studies have reviewed these apps for adherence to behavior theory. Furthermore, apps for depression management are underrepresented in healthcare research. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to assess mHealth depression apps using SDT as a theoretical framework for meeting needs of autonomy, competence and, relatedness METHODS All depression healthcare apps available in Australia from the iTunes and Google Play app stores that met the inclusion criteria were analyzed. Each app was reviewed based on price options, store availability, download rates, and how in-app functions met the three basic needs for motivation towards health behavior change outlined in the Self-Determination Theory (SDT). RESULTS The analysis of the apps showed that most apps were free to download (69.9%) and addressed at least one of the three needs (81.4%) of SDT. However, few apps addressed all three of the basic needs through their functions (7.7%), and no apps hosted all functions expected to stimulate motivation for health behavior change. Furthermore, neither store availability, price option nor download rate were accurate predictors that apps hosted in-app functions expected to meet the basic needs. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that some depression healthcare apps that meet the basic needs would effectively stimulate motivation (i.e., autonomy, competence, and relatedness). However, each individual app is limited in its number of functions that meet the basic needs. People who want access to more functions would need to download a suite of apps.



2020 ◽  
pp. 009102602096450
Author(s):  
Chengwei Xu ◽  
Chung-An Chen

Motivations for choosing a public service career have long been a core issue in public administration research. This study focuses on China. Using the self-determination theory (SDT) as the basic framework, we revise Chen et al.’s scale which captures multiple motivations for a public service career (MPSC). We then validate the revised scale with responses from a questionnaire. The results show five distinct dimensions of MPSC, and all of them are associated with work-related attitudes and perceptions in different ways. In the conclusion, we discuss the theoretical and practical contributions of this study.



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