A Correlational Study on Orientation toward Religion and Academic Motivation among Undergraduates at a Christian University

• Main Author: Daw, Jolene E.
• Language: EN
• Published: Grand Canyon University 2018
• Subjects: Religion|Psychology
• Online Access: http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10931044

<p> The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to determine if and to what extent a relationship existed between orientations toward religion and academic motivation in a sample of 338 students enrolled in a Christian University in the Southwest United States. Self-determination theory provided the theoretical framework. Religiosity was measured using the Revised Intrinsic/Extrinsic Religious Orientation Scale with three factors. Academic motivation was measured using the Academic Motivation Scale, college version, with seven factors. Results of the Spearman&rsquo;s rank correlations identified multiple significant relationships supporting the alternative hypotheses. There were significant and consistently inverse correlations of intrinsic orientation towards religion with academic intrinsic motivation towards accomplishment, academic intrinsic motivation to experience stimulation, academic extrinsic motivation introjected regulation, academic extrinsic motivation external regulation, and academic amotivation (&rho; = &ndash;.351, <i>p</i> &lt; .001 to &rho; = &ndash;.136, <i>p</i> = .012). There were significant and consistently direct correlations of extrinsic social orientation towards religion and academic extrinsic motivation introjected regulation (&rho; = .141, <i> p</i> = .009), and academic extrinsic motivation external regulation (&rho; = .130, <i>p</i> = .017). Lastly, there were significant and consistently direct correlations of extrinsic personal orientation towards religion and academic intrinsic motivation to know, academic intrinsic motivation toward accomplishment, academic intrinsic motivation to experience stimulation, academic extrinsic motivation identified regulation, academic extrinsic motivation introjected regulation, and academic extrinsic motivation external regulation (&rho; = .177, <i>p</i> = .001 to &rho; = .329, <i>p</i> &lt; .001). The results indicated that religious orientation does relate to one&rsquo;s motivation for behavior in an academic setting. </p><p>