Extra Motivation: Estimating the Impact of Motivational Qualities on College Graduation

• In Event: Role of Motivational Factors in Shaping Students’ Academic Behaviors and Achievement

Abstract

Schools typically evaluate students by using conventional measures of cognitive ability, like grades and test scores, which may overlook important motivational qualities. Social cognition theory holds that achievement-oriented beliefs influence early scholastic performance but few studies have examined later educational outcomes. Using logistic regression and National Education Longitudinal Study data, I find that motivation levels measured as early as 8th grade predict college graduation, independent of grades, family background, and demographic characteristics. I create new measures of motivation based on test performance and educational expectations, and reveal that disadvantaged students benefit most from high motivation. The findings suggest that colleges can improve graduation rates and increase diversity by attaching more weight to motivation qualities in the admissions process.

Author

• Shomon Shamsuddin, Massachusetts Institute of Technology