Influence of Academic Motivation on Study Involvement among Adolescents

INTRODUCTIONAcademic motivation is an internal processes that instigate and sustain activities aimed at achieving specific academic goals (Pintrich & Zusho, 2002). Self-determination theorists posit that academic motivation is multidimensional in nature, and is comprised of three global types of motivation: intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, and amotivation (Deci & Ryan, 2002). Academic motivation is an essential predictor of school performance. Academic motivation is one of the most studied topics in educational psychology. Its direct and indirect influence on learning processes has been proven in numerous research findings.Study involvement is defined by Bhatnagar (1982) as relationship between involvement and need satisfaction, a positive relationship that exists between personal involvement of individuals in any activity and the satisfaction of their needs. Study involvement is a process by which the skills, capacities and competencies of the students are enhanced. Academic involvement comprises the learning activities that students implement and the educational support services that they use, which they perceive as impacting their academic performance (Astin, 1984). Eugene and Anderson (1994) have found study involvement to be positively related to student's achievement. It is necessary to determine such involvement among students to understand and guide them better so that they become capable enough in meeting all the odd phases of their life.AimTo study the influence of academic motivation on study involvement among adolescents.Hypotheses1. Adolescents significantly differ in their academic motivation based on gender.2. Adolescents significantly differ in their academic motivation based on type of family.3. Adolescents significantly differ in their academic motivation based on their area of living.4. Adolescents significantly differ in their academic motivation based on type of school.5. Academic motivation has a significant influence on study involvement.METHODOLOGYSampleThe sample for the study were collected from 10 different schools of Dharmapuri districts in Tamil Nadu. Samples were taken from private and government schools separately. A total of 250 students were selected out which 150 are male and 100 are female. Stratified random sampling design was used.Tools UsedTo assess the influence of academic motivation on study involvement among adolescents, the following tools were used:1. Academic Motivation Scale developed by Vallerand et al. (1993)2. Study Involvement Inventory developed by Asha Bhatnagar (1982).Data processingThe data collected were analyzed using appropriate statistical tools. 't' test was used to assess the significant difference in academic motivation of adolescents based on their gender, type of school, area of living and type of family. Correlation was used the study the relationship between academic motivation and study involvement. The influence of academic motivation on study involvement of adolescents was assessed using regression.RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONThe above table shows the 't' test for academic motivation of students based on their gender. There is a significant gender difference found in academic motivation dimensions such as identified regulation, intrinsic motivation to know, intrinsic motivation to experience stimulation. It shows that females have high level of identified regulation, intrinsic motivation to know, intrinsic motivation to experience stimulation compared to the males. Hence the hypothesis 1 is accepted.Female students have scored high is identified regulation. This may be because, compared to male students, female students realize the importance of a behaviour, accept it and regulate their behaviour to attain their goals. In a school setting, for example, generally female students memorize their subject. …