scholarly journals Why Do Chinese College Students Learn ESP: An Analysis of Language Learning Motivations within SDT Framework

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liangxing Liu
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Self Determination Theory ◽  
The Self ◽  
English For Specific Purposes ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Chinese College Students ◽  
Learning English

<p>This study mainly investigates the motivational characteristics of Chinese college students learning English for Specific Purposes (ESP). By critically examining and comparing Gardner’s (1985) Integrative-Instrumental model and the Self-determination Theory (SDT) by Deci and Ryan(1985), the researcher finds out that the latter one is more comprehensive and applicable to the case of Chinese college ESP learners (the subjects). Thus the researcher develops a questionnaire within the SDT framework to analyze the subjects’ motivations. Drawing upon a follow-up statistical analysis, the research discovers the motivational propensities of the subjects. A discussion of corresponding motivational methods to help improve the subjects’ ESP learning is provided at the end of the article.</p>

scholarly journals Successful language learning in a corporate setting: The role of attribution theory and its relation to intrinsic and extrinsic motivation

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 583-608
Author(s):  
Csaba Kálmán ◽  
Esther Gutierrez Eugenio
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Corporate Culture ◽  
Attribution Theory ◽  
Extrinsic Motivation ◽  
Self Determination Theory ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
L2 Motivation ◽  
Intrinsic And Extrinsic Motivation ◽  
Learning English

Attribution theory (Weiner, 1985) and self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985) have been explored as contributors to L2 motivation (cf. Dörnyei, 2001) but have never been studied quantitatively in concert. In addition, students’ attributions for success in learning a foreign language have never been measured through the use of a questionnaire. The aim of this paper is therefore (a) to develop a questionnaire with reliable constructs that allows to measure adult learners’ attributions for their success in learning English in a corporate setting, (b) to investigate these learners’ attributions, and (c) to investigate the relationship between students’ attributions and the constructs of Intrinsic and Extrinsic motivation central to self-determination theory. Our main results show that among the attributions measured, interest, effort and corporate culture seemed to be the main causes that students recognised as directly involved in their success in learning English. Of all the attributional scales, interest and ability appeared to importantly contribute to intrinsic motivation, while corporate culture, encounters with foreign professionals and ability contributed to a lower extent to extrinsic motivation. It must be noted, however, that attributions for success to teacher and task were so consistently high that they could not be reliably measured with the questionnaire.

A review of mHealth depression apps: Assessing app functions for the Self-Determination Theory (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luke Brownlow
Keyword(s):  
Health Behavior ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Basic Needs ◽  
Health Behavior Change ◽  
Self Determination Theory ◽  
Healthcare Research ◽  
The Self ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Ideal Tool ◽  
Google Play

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.

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