Self-Determination Theory and the School Satisfaction and Motivation of Doctoral Students

• In Event: Poster Session 8
  In Poster Session: Factors That Encourage Doctoral Student Success

Abstract

Abstract
Research has indicated that 30% to 50% of doctoral students to not complete their degrees (Golde, 1998; Lovitts, 2001). In this study, four factors were predicted to be associated with the motivation to continue graduate school; three of these factors (autonomy, competence, and relatedness) are the three innate psychological needs posited in Self-Determination Theory. The fourth variable is school satisfaction. This study utilizes an existing data set that was collected in spring 2009. A total of 125 PhD students at a private university agreed to take part in the study. The results of this study results indicate that graduate students who had high levels of school satisfaction, autonomy, competence, and relatedness were motivated to continue with their degrees.

Author

• Michelle Marie Mason, Troy University