THE ACADEMIC MOTIVATION OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS: EVIDENCE FROM STUDENTS OF MANAGEMENT STREAM OF A STATE UNIVERSITY IN SRI LANKA

Abstract

Educators are interested in knowing how academic motivation of students can be increased, as it is evident that motivated students are better performers. Motivation is one of the most important psychological concepts in education management today and has in fact shown to be related to various learning and performance outcomes (Lavery, 1999). Students are highly motivated by both intrinsic and extrinsic rewards and both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation affect student performance (Beswick, 2002). This paper addresses academic motivation on one of the perceptive states that behavior can be both extrinsically and intrinsically motivated. The study attempts to investigate the level of academic motivation of undergraduate university students in Sri Lanka. Besides, an attempt is made to identify factors affecting academic motivation of undergraduate students. Finally, the paper will discuss the preferred characteristics of lecturers perceived as academically motivating by the university students in Sri Lanka. Data is gathered through a questionnaire, which administered to 120 undergraduate students. Findings indicate that the students possess high level of extrinsic motivation and low level of intrinsic motivation. Study identified “5” factors of extrinsic motivation and “6” factors of intrinsic motivation. The paper discusses the research and implications.

Keywords: Academic Motivation, Education Management, Extrinsic Motivation, Intrinsic Motivation, Preferred Characteristics

For full Paper: fmscresearch@sjp.ac.lk