CORRELATION BETWEEN COURSE INTEREST, SELF-DIRECTION AND ASSESSMENT SCORES FOR DETERMINING MOTIVATION OF MEDICAL AND DENTAL STUDENTS IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

 Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation is required for task engagement, good performance and achievement. The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between extrinsic motivating factors of a course and intrinsic motivation of medical and dental students as measured by their self-direction aptitude and to determine their relationship with academic achievement.

A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted on two hundred and twenty female medical and dental students at a private medical college. Data was collected for first term exam results and on Course interest survey tool (CIS) and self-direction aptitude survey tool (SDLAS).

Pearsons correlation between CIS and SDLAS was 0.377 (p<0.01). The correlation between SDLAS scale and First Term examination results was 0.166.

First term exam may not have given good correlation with CIS and SDLAS as compared to professional exam. Assessment type might have affected the result. This study identified the need for faculty training in self-efficacy, feedback, criterion referenced assessment and instructional methods which promote self-directed learning.