Relationship between Motivation and Academic Performance in Peruvian Undergraduate Students in the Subject Mathematics

Abstract

Existing literature has paid little attention to the role that motivational variables have on the academic performance of mathematics students in Peru. The objective of the study was to determine the relationship between motivation and its dimensions and academic performance in this subject. A cross-sectional and correlational study was carried out in a sample of 251 first-cycle Peruvian undergraduate mathematics students using an electronic questionnaire. The students' academic performance was measured by their records of the Mathematics course. The motivation was assessed using a self-report instrument designed to assess students' intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, and demotivation through 28 items. For statistical processing, Spearman's Rho coefficient and a linear regression analysis were taken into account. It was concluded that there is a weak correlation between academic performance and motivation (r = 0.222, p=0.001), in the same way as intrinsic motivation (r = 0.242, p=0.001) and extrinsic (r = 0.117, p=0.003) and a weak correlation with the demotivation dimension (r = 0.142, p=0.024). With regard to linear regression, all dimensions of motivation were predictive of academic performance; intrinsic motivation explains a 27.2% of academic performance (β = 0.732; p=0.011); extrinsic motivation explains a 16.8% of academic performance (β = 0.556; p=0.001), and demotivation a 12.4% (β = 0.427; p=0.008). This research provides a clear contribution with results on the association between motivation and academic performance in mathematics. This study suggests that universities, teachers, and students' families take the necessary measures and provide stimulation to increase their motivation. In the same way, it is suggested that the university, in general, implements strategies to involve the student so that the student is always clear about the reason why they are at university and finish the degree they have started.