Academic motivation as a predictor of the development of critical thinking in students

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Berestova ◽  
Sergey Kolosov ◽  
Milena Tsvetkova ◽  
Elena Grib

PurposeThe study deals with the problems of development of critical thinking among university students, its connection with motivation for learning and academic achievements of students. The purpose of the study is to define the relationship between academic motivation and critical thinking.Design/methodology/approachThe study involved a survey based on the academic motivation scale. A total of 520 students from four universities in Russia and one Bulgaria University were interviewed.FindingsThe analysis of the questionnaires showed that among the students surveyed the types of motivation contributing to self-development and analysis predominate, namely self-development, cognitive, achievement and self-esteem motivation. The null hypothesis of the study that there was no difference between the average score of the critical thinking test (Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal, WGCTA) for total sample and the results of students with dominant types of academic motivation that contribute to critical thinking was rejected.Originality/valueIt was revealed that academic motivation has a notable effect on critical thinking and can become a predictor of its development. Several ways have been proposed to track and help students with low academic motivation: regular testing, identification of students with amotivation and strong extrinsic motivation, and psychological support for such students.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 339-347
Author(s):  
Eylem PASLI GÜRDOĞAN

This study was conducted to determine the relationship between nursing students’ awareness and attitudes towards research and developments and their academic motivation levels. This descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out with students from nursing department of faculty of health sciences of a university in Turkey (n=460). Data were collected using the questionnaire form which included the socio-demographic characteristics of those students, “Nursing Students’ Attitudes to and Awareness of Research and Development within Nursing Scale” and “Academic Motivation Scale”. Data were analyzed using percentage, mean, Pearson’s correlation analysis, Student’s t, and One Way Anova tests. The mean age of the students was 20.56±1.52. 81.1% were female and 28.7% were in their first year. The average score of the Nursing Students’ Attitudes to and Awareness of Research and Development within Nursing Scale was 120.54±17.46. The students’ mean score on intrinsic motivation subscale was 57.20±13.45, on extrinsic motivation subscale was 61.96±11.50 and on amotivation subscale was 10.12±5.87 in Academic Motivation Scale. The level of the students’ awareness and attitudes towards research and developments has a positive correlation with the levels of their intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and a negative correlation with the level of their amotivation (p<0.05). The average score of the Nursing Students’ Attitudes to and Awareness of Research and Development within Nursing Scale were statistically significantly different in the gender, the status of their following scientific publications and the positions they wanted to work after graduation (p<0.05). It has been determined that the students have high level of awareness and attitudes towards research and development, and their academic motivation levels affect their awareness and attitudes towards research and development.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 3268
Author(s):  
Eva María Olmedo-Moreno ◽  
Jorge Expósito-López ◽  
José Javier Romero-Díaz de la Guardia ◽  
María Dolores Pistón-Rodríguez ◽  
Noelia Parejo-Jiménez

The main aim of the present study is to adapt the academic motivation scale (AMS) for use within basic vocational training and university students. Another aim was to analyze the characteristics of the different dimensions of motivation, whilst also examining existing significant differences between the two studied educational stages. For this, we conducted exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, alongside descriptive and inferential analysis of student responses. One of the main findings was that a reduced version of the AMS, made up of five dimensions and 21 items, demonstrated good internal consistency and fit. Further, we observed that intrinsic motivation is higher in university students, whilst extrinsic motivation is higher during the basic vocational training stage. In addition, we uncovered significant differences between both educational stages with regards to the pleasure felt by students when they better themselves, learn new things and attend the educational center. Differences also emerged in relation to the importance attributed by students to achieving a good and well-paid job. With regards to amotivation, significant differences only exist in relation to the motives students have for attending classes and decision making about whether to continue studying the course they are enrolled on. Finally, we have analyzed how the variables sex, age, prior work experience and volunteering experience, and average grade influence the motivation of students undertaking basic vocational training and university students.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerry Shephard ◽  
Qudsia Kalsoom ◽  
Ritika Gupta ◽  
Lorenz Probst ◽  
Paul Gannon ◽  
...  

Purpose Higher education is uncertain which sustainability-related education targets should be sought and monitored. Accepting that something needs to be measurable to be systematically improved, the authors explored how measures relate to potential targets. This paper aims to focus on dispositions to think critically (active open-minded thinking and fair-minded thinking in appraising reasoning) as measures and explored how they related to sustainability concern as an indicative educational target. Design/methodology/approach This research included the development and testing of research instruments (scales) that explored dispositions to critical thinking and sustainability concern. Authors researched these instruments within their own correspondence groups and tested them with university students and staff in Pakistan, the USA, Austria, India and New Zealand. The authors also asked a range of contextualising questions. Findings Respondents’ disposition to aspects of active, open-minded thinking and fair-minded thinking do predict their concern about facets of sustainability but their strength of religious belief was an important factor in these relationships and in their measurement. Practical implications This research demonstrates the complexity of monitoring dispositions to think critically and sustainability concern in educational systems, particularly in circumstances where the roles of religious beliefs are of interest; and suggests ways to address this complexity. Originality/value This research integrates and expands discourses on ESD and on critical thinking in diverse disciplines and cultures. It investigates measurement approaches and targets that could help higher education institutions to educate for sustainable development and to monitor their progress, in ways that are compatible with their culture and values.


Author(s):  
Tuyet-Mai Nguyen

Purpose This study aims to examine the relationship between intrinsic motivation and online knowledge sharing intentions (KSIs) and the moderating effect of extrinsic motivation and organisational culture on this relationship. The influence of online KSI on two dimensions of online knowledge sharing behaviour, knowledge donating and knowledge collecting, was also investigated. Design/methodology/approach Based on the extensive literature review, a questionnaire was designed. In total, 290 questionnaires from employees in Vietnamese companies in the banking and insurance industry were collected and tested using structural equation modelling. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS and PLS 3 software to examine the research hypotheses. Findings This study found that rewards and reciprocity undermined the influence of self-enjoyment on online KSI, while top management support and social interaction ties undermined the relationship between self-efficacy and online KSI. Top management support positively moderated the effect of self-enjoyment on online KSI. The results also suggested that online KSI was a good predictor of online knowledge donating and collecting. Originality/value Little is empirically known about the moderating effect of extrinsic motivation and organizational culture on intrinsic motivation. The study brings new insights to further understand about online knowledge sharing in an organisation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-51
Author(s):  
A.A. Ousama ◽  
Mashael Thaar Al-Mutairi ◽  
A.H. Fatima

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between the intellectual capital (IC) information reported in the annual reports and market value of the companies listed on the Qatar Stock Exchange. Design/methodology/approach The study is based on a panel data collected from the annual reports and Bloomberg database for six years, specifically the periods 2010-2012 and 2016-2018. The total sample consists of 252 observations. The theoretical framework was developed in reference to the resource-based theory. The regression model is based on Ohlson’s model, which has been modified by including IC information. Findings The study found that there is a significant relationship between IC information and firm market value. This finding indicates that companies report their IC to help the stakeholders (e.g. shareholders, investors) to understand the real value of the company (which includes IC values). Practical implications The shift to a knowledge-based economy (KBE) has made knowledge a driver for economic growth, and it has become more important than capital, land and labour. This shift makes IC and resources vital for companies to create wealth, value and gain competitive advantage. The State of Qatar plans to transform its economy to a KBE in its “Qatar Vision 2030”. The findings of the study show that the companies have started to depend more on IC to contribute to transforming Qatar’s economy to a KBE. Originality/value This study could be considered a pioneer study to examine the association of IC disclosure and firm value in Qatar. Furthermore, prior literature has mixed findings, which justifies further investigation of IC’s effect on market value, particularly in the emerging economy of Qatar.


Author(s):  
Shashi Singh ◽  
Ajay Singh ◽  
Kiran Singh

Motivation plays a crucial role in learning. Motivation energizes the behavior of the individual. It also directs the behavior towards specific goals. It helps students acquire knowledge, develop social qualities, increase initiation, persist in activities, improve performance, and develop a sense of discipline. This paper aims to compare the levels of motivation between students in the open education system (OES) and in the traditional education system (TES) in India. The study further investigates the motivation levels of male and female students in the two systems. An Academic Motivation Scale was prepared and administered on the students of TES (<em>n </em>= 200) and OES (<em>n </em>= 151). Results show that there exist significant differences in the level of motivation between the students of TES and OES. The study concludes that it is the presence or absence of extrinsic motivation which is predominantly responsible for this difference.<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden" /><input id="jsProxy" onclick="if(typeof(jsCall)=='function'){jsCall();}else{setTimeout('jsCall()',500);}" type="hidden" />


Author(s):  
Trent Maurer ◽  
Deborah Allen ◽  
Delena Gatch ◽  
Padmini Shankar ◽  
Diana Sturges

Purpose: Human Anatomy & Physiology [HAP] courses are considered “difficult” by both faculty and students, and many students fail to pass the courses. An attempt was made to understand how students’ academic motivations may contribute to their success or failure in these courses. Method: The project used a non-experimental design with a convenience sample. Students in five sections of HAP I and HAP II were invited to complete an anonymous 42-item questionnaire that included an adapted version of the Academic Motivation Scale [AMS], six demographic questions, and eight questions about their academic behaviors in and perceptions of their HAP course. A total of 461 students (69% response rate) completed the questionnaire. Analyses included 1) reliability for the seven AMS subscales, 2) correlations among the subscales, among the eight questions about their behaviors and perceptions, and between the subscales and the behavior and perception questions, and 3) a multivariate multiple regression with the AMS subscales as independent variables and the behavior and perception questions as dependent variables. Results: The AMS was successfully adapted to apply to HAP courses with reliabilities comparable to previously published data. Students’ levels of intrinsic motivation and amotivation, but not extrinsic motivation, were significantly related to their academic behaviors and perceptions of the courses. Conclusions and Recommendations: Despite high levels of extrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation did not appear related to students’ academic behaviors. HAP instructors may need to consider alternate routes to influencing students’ academic success behaviors, as it appears that attempts to influence their extrinsic motivations may not essentially translate to changes in academic behavior.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rita Pasion ◽  
Eva Dias-Oliveira ◽  
Ana Camacho ◽  
Catarina Morais ◽  
Raquel Campos Franco

Purpose This study aims to explore whether the COVID-19-related circumstances hindered these academic-related variables. Design Methodology Approach The authors surveyed two groups of undergraduate business students (42% male) who completed the questionnaires at the beginning and at the end of the semester. One group of students attended only face-to-face classes in the 2018/2019 academic year (n = 126) and the other group transitioned to online classes because of the COVID-19 outbreak in the 2019/2020 academic year (n = 99). Findings The findings show no statistically significant group differences between the pre- and post-test in students’ intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, feelings of attachment to the university and engagement dimensions of absorption and vigour. Nevertheless, a moderate negative effect was found in the dedication engagement dimension. Practical Implications The authors discuss the main results in terms of some practices that may contribute towards attenuating the effects of future emerging pandemics in the higher education setting. Originality Value The COVID-19 pandemic imposed a rapid transition to online instruction in education institutions worldwide. However, it remains unclear to date how students’ engagement, motivation and attachment to the university were negatively affected by the first COVID-19 outbreak.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauricio Carvache-Franco ◽  
Orly Carvache-Franco ◽  
Ana Gabriela Víquez-Paniagua ◽  
Wilmer Carvache-Franco ◽  
Allan Perez-Orozco

PurposeThe objectives of this study were to (a) analyze the relationship between sociodemographic aspects and motivations in ecotourism and (b) identify the relationship between sociodemographic aspects and satisfaction and loyalty variables.Design/methodology/approachThe research was carried out in the Arenal National Park and the Caño Negro National Wildlife Refuge in Costa Rica, an ecologically important ecotourism destination. The sample consisted of 310 surveys obtained in situ. For data analysis, factor analysis and the multiple regression method were used.FindingsThe results show that younger tourists tend to be more motivated by self-development, whereas older tourists and lower-income tourists are more motivated toward strengthening interpersonal relationships with family and friends. In contrast, tourists with lower education levels are highly motivated by novelty, feel more satisfied with the visit and are more willing to recommend and say positive things about the destination. Besides, repeat visitors are most likely to return.Research limitations/implicationsThe present study was limited by the timing in which it was carried out. Among the future lines of research, studies that address the relationship between sociodemographic variables in the different ecotourism segments should be conducted.Practical implicationsRegarding the practical implications, this study helps companies related to tourism to pay attention to the sociodemographic characteristics of tourists to design activities and services according to their motivations, satisfaction and loyalty. For younger tourists who are motivated by self-development, activities and services related to learning about nature can be planned to encourage their personal growth, new abilities and individual skills. Regarding elderly and lower-income tourists, who are motivated to be with family and friends, recreational activities to improve family and friendship relationships can be promoted.Social implicationsThese findings will serve to plan attractions and services in protected areas, benefiting the destinations and the communities sustainably.Originality/valueOne of the contributions of this study is to find a negative relationship between the level of education and other variables such as satisfaction, intentions to recommend and intentions to say positive things about the destination. This research also identified a negative relationship between age and the self-development motivational dimension, a positive relationship between age and being with family and friends dimension, a negative relationship between income and being with family and friends dimension and a negative relationship between the number of visits and the novelty dimension.


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