Skip to main content
Article
Students’ Academic Motivations in Allied Health Classes
The Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice
  • Trent W. Maurer, Georgia Southern University
  • Deborah Allen, Georgia Southern University
  • Delena Bell Gatch, Georgia Southern University
  • Padmini Shankar, Georgia Southern University
  • Diana Sturges, Georgia Southern University
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2012
Abstract

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.

Citation Information
Trent W. Maurer, Deborah Allen, Delena Bell Gatch, Padmini Shankar, et al.. "Students’ Academic Motivations in Allied Health Classes" The Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice Vol. 10 (2012)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/delena_gatch/12/