THE ACADEMIC MOTIVATION OF BESTLINK COLLEGE OF THE PHILIPPINES PSYCHOLOGY STUDENTS: BASIS FOR ACTION PLAN

Abstract

Understanding the diverse motivations behind students' academic pursuits is essential for fostering effective learning environments. Motivation in education is broadly categorized into two types:​  Intrinsic Motivation: This stems from internal factors, where students engage in learning for personal satisfaction and the inherent enjoyment of the subject matter. Such students often choose challenging tasks and exhibit independent learning behaviors.​  Extrinsic Motivation: This arises from external influences, such as the desire for rewards or recognition. Students driven by extrinsic motivation might focus on tasks to achieve specific outcomes, like grades or approval from others.​  Strategies to Enhance Student Motivation:  To sustain and enhance both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, educators can implement the following strategies:​  Capture and Maintain Attention:  Perceptual Arousal: Use surprising or novel stimuli to pique interest.​ Inquiry Arousal: Pose challenging questions or problems to stimulate curiosity.​ Variability: Incorporate diverse teaching methods and materials to maintain engagement.​ Establish Relevance:  Goal Orientation: Align course objectives with students' personal and professional goals.​ Motive Matching: Connect learning materials to students' existing interests and values.​ Familiarity: Utilize examples and language that resonate with students' backgrounds and experiences.​ Build Confidence:  Set Achievable Goals: Design tasks that are challenging yet attainable, providing clear expectations.​ Provide Constructive Feedback: Offer timely and specific feedback to guide improvement and reinforce effort.​ Encourage Self-Assessment: Enable students to evaluate their progress, fostering a sense of ownership.​ Promote Satisfaction:  Acknowledge Achievements: Celebrate successes to reinforce positive behaviors.​ Provide Opportunities for Application: Allow students to apply learned concepts in real-world scenarios, enhancing the perceived value of the material.​ Foster a Supportive Environment: Cultivate a classroom atmosphere that encourages collaboration and mutual respect.​ By integrating these strategies, educators can create a dynamic learning environment that caters to both intrinsic and extrinsic motivations, leading to sustained student engagement and academic success. The study employed quantitative research methods, utilizing simple random sampling to select 207 respondents from a population of 445 third-year Bachelor of Science in Psychology students currently enrolled at Bestlink College of the Philippines. Data were collected using a 7-point Likert scale questionnaire. The findings provide valuable insights into the academic motivation of third-year Bachelor of Science in Psychology students at Bestlink College of the Philippines. The data indicates a higher representation of female respondents compared to males. This observation aligns with broader academic trends, as certain fields, including psychology, often attract more female students. For instance, recent statistics from the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) revealed that girls outnumber boys three-to-one in psychology subjects. ​ With a mean score of 5.27, extrinsic motivation emerged as the most prominent among the motivation variables. This suggests that students are primarily driven by external rewards or incentives, such as achieving high grades or avoiding negative outcomes. This aligns with the concept of extrinsic motivation, where behaviors are performed to attain external outcomes rather than for intrinsic satisfaction.​  Intrinsic Motivation:  The intrinsic motivation variable yielded a mean score of 5.04. This highlights the importance of cultivating a learning environment that stimulates students' inherent curiosity and passion for the subject matter. Fostering intrinsic motivation is crucial, as it is associated with deeper engagement and sustained academic interest.​  A motivation:  With a mean score of 3.09, amotivation reflects a moderate level of agreement among students regarding doubts about their initial reasons for attending college and considerations about continuing their studies. Amotivation, characterized by a lack of motivation, can lead to disengagement and may impact academic performance. Addressing factors contributing to amotivation is essential to ensure students remain committed to their educational goals. This study revealed that students demonstrate significant motivation across multiple aspects, emphasizing their deep desire for achievement and acknowledgment in the academic field. Furthermore, the results highlighted a greater representation of female students in psychology compared to males, indicating a need for initiatives aimed at increasing male participation in psychology programs. It is especially crucial for freshmen, particularly male students, to be made aware of the career options and opportunities linked to obtaining an undergraduate degree in psychology. Fostering both external and internal motivation for learning is vital for long-term academic success.