Date

5-2015

Department

School of Education

Degree

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Chair

Barbara Boothe

Keywords

Expectancy, Motivation, Valence, Vrooms

Disciplines

Education | Educational Psychology | Other Education

Abstract

The purpose of this predictive correlational study was to investigate the motivation of students seeking a vocation in the technical college setting. The study used Vroom's expectancy theory as it relates to students' beliefs in their ability to attain a higher grade (expectancy) and their desire for that grade (valence) to the effect on student academic effort (motivational force). The study's participants were selected from degree seeking students at a technical college in the Middle Georgia area. For the correlational element of the study, Hierarchical Multiple Regressions models were used and a statistically significant correlation was found, p < 0.05, thus supporting the use of the expectancy theory as an effective model for predicting student motivation resulting in a mean adjusted R² = .66. Further analysis from this data found that the predictors -valence and expectancy- can predict effort levels of motivation in the technical college degree student with near identical (p = .942) squared semi-partial correlation coefficients of .325 and.324 respectively. This correlational design, employing a within-persons decision-modeling research approach is an attempt to fill the gap in the research in the area of student motivation as it relates to technical college students, whose academics are designed for the sole purpose of preparing the student for employment in areas as diverse as accounting and welding.

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