Self-esteem and motivation to online learning: the case of female inmates

Abstract

Based on the idea that digital resources can facilitate learning and that self-esteem and motivation to learn are dispositional factors that favor learning, this study characterizes the levels of self-esteem and motivation of female prisoners attending an online training course in relation to the variables associated with them. Data were collected through scales assessing self-esteem and motivation to learn, and by interviews. The results point to the existence of higher levels of self-esteem than those identified by other studies, to a complementarity between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and indicate significant correlations between some of the variables associated with the situation of female prisoners. We conclude that online learning influenced these inmates’ self-esteem and motivation to learn.