Motivational factors influencing students’ academic choices in higher education

Factors of motivation in higher education, broadly classified as intrinsic or extrinsic, significantly predict skill development and workforce preparedness driving social stability and economic growth. Since the disruptive COVID-19 pandemic, the subsequently accelerated workplace restructuring and the ensuing economic crisis in Lebanon, there have been very few studies investigating students’ motivation in higher education. The present study addresses this gap by investigating the factors of motivation (intrinsic or extrinsic) that drive students to pursue a higher education, including instructor-, course-related and other external factors. Five hundred forty-three university students answered demographic questions and completed a questionnaire based on the academic motivation scale (AMS-C-28). Our findings show that extrinsic motivation seems to be the main factor driving students to seek and complete a higher education, and point to course content and delivery as the major aspects influencing students’ motivation in class.