Academic motivation among college students: variance and predictors

This three-paper dissertation addresses the manner in which students’ intrinsic motivation to engage in academic tasks changes during the four years of college. The first paper examines the variance of students’ academic motivation during college. The second paper analyzes whether good practices in undergraduate education promote academic motivation, and the third paper seeks to determine whether those good practices benefit certain students more than others. The papers indicate that academic motivation changes during college, the good practices are positive predictors of academic motivation, and that certain of the good practices are more beneficial to certain student sub-groups. Implications and directions for future research are explored in each paper.