Academic Motivation From High School to College: Various Trajectories and Their Associations With Educational Outcomes

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session 14
  In Roundtable Session: Motivating and Supporting Student Groups Throughout College

Abstract

Based on a six-year longitudinal study and on self-determination theory, we investigated academic motivation trajectories of students from Grade 8 to the second year of college and whether these trajectories predict various educational outcomes. A total of 1738 students participated in this study (Mage at time 1 = 12.0 years; 57% female). Four distinct trajectories emerged from the person-centered analyses (piecewise trajectory analyses): High and slightly decreasing, Decreasing, Decreasing and worsening, and Low and improving after transition. These trajectories and their associations with outcomes were partly aligned with expectations from self-determination theory. Students corresponding to the High and slightly decreasing and the Low and improving after transition trajectories reported more positive outcomes than those corresponding to the remaining profiles.

Authors

• David Litalien, Université Laval

• Noelly Lemardelet, Université Laval

• Simon Larose, Université Laval

• Stéphane Duchesne, Universite Laval

• Alexandre Morin