“I Have Doubts”: Examining Imposter Syndrome and Its Relationship to Motivation

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Saturday 1:45 pm - Gold 2
  In Roundtable Session: Developing an Academic Identity

Abstract

This quantitative study investigates imposter syndrome (IS) among faculty members, focusing on the roles of tenure status, gender, ethnicity, and motivational factors. Survey data from 1,538 faculty at predominantly North American universities were analyzed. Men and pre-tenured faculty reported significantly higher IS, while no significant ethnic differences emerged. Introjected motivation (guilt-driven) showed a moderate positive correlation with IS, and autonomous motivation showed a weak negative correlation. Regression analysis revealed introjected motivation as the strongest predictor of IS. The implications of the findings for institutional strategies and practices to reduce IS by emphasizing intrinsic motivation and faculty well-being are discussed.

Authors

• Sharmin Rahman, University of North Dakota

• Bijaya Shrestha, University of North Dakota

• Nathan C. Hall, Government of Canada

• Robert H. Stupnisky, University of North Dakota