EXAMINING MA TESOL STUDENTS' MOTIVATIONS FOR JOINING POSTGRADUATE STUDIES: A STUDY OF INTRINSIC, EXTRINSIC AND DEMOTIVATION

Mawada Al-Shibani, Ahmed Athawadi

Abstract


For examining the motivations of MA TESOL students and the factors that influence their decisions, the self-determination theory of motivation was taken into consideration. The aims of the study were to determine the prevalent style of motivation and the factors associated with motivation. Moreover, the study aims to identify any lack of motivation. A mixed-methods design (quantitative and qualitative) was adopted involving the Academic Motivation Scale (AMS) and a semi-structured interview. The findings indicate that MA TESOL students were significantly motivated to join the program. In addition, the prevalent styles of motivation were a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic, with a slightly stronger emphasis on extrinsic motivation. Moreover, the factors that influence motivation were the desire for personal growth, career advancement, and external rewards. In conclusion, this study is mainly focused on identifying styles of motivation and understanding the underlying factors that motivate graduate students to pursue a master’s degree in TESOL.

 

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Keywords


postgraduate studies, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, self-determination theory

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References


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejel.v10i1.5994

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