Students’ Professional Motivation Levels, Factors Affecting Their Motivation, and Their Views Regarding Their Professions: A Vocational School of Health Services Example

Abstract

This descriptive study was conducted to identify the motivation levels of university students, factors affecting their motivation, and students' opinions concerning their professions. The study sample consisted of 211 students attending the Vocational School of Health Services. Data were assembled using a “Questionnaire Form” and the “Motivation Sources and Problems Scale”. Frequency, percentage, arithmetic mean values, and the chi-square, independent group Student t-test, Mann Whitney U, ANOVA, and Kruskal Wallis tests were used for data analysis. Students’ mean scores were 41.06 ± 7.17 on the intrinsic motivation sub-dimension, 20.27±3.15 on the extrinsic motivation sub-dimension, and 25.08 ± 6.76 on the negative motivation sub-dimension, with a mean overall score of 86.41 ± 12.73. It is found that 91.5% of students had chosen their profession of their own volition and that 66.4% regarded their profession as important. In conclusion, students’ intrinsic and extrinsic motivation levels were high, while negative motivation was low. Helping others, ease of finding employment, and selecting their professions of their own volition affect students’ professional motivation. Students also thought that the working hours were not excessively demanding and wished to engage in their professions after graduation.