Intrinsic motivation of distance learners in higher education institutions

Abstract

As information and communication technologies and learner characteristics in higher education develop, so do distance education methods, which are implemented at various levels by higher education institutions. The involvement of students in the learning process is one of the most crucial factors to consider throughout the distance education application transformation, which might change depending on the conditions. At this point, it can be stated that the intrinsic motivation levels of learners involved in distance learning play a decisive role in participating in learning processes. Therefore, examining the intrinsic motivation levels of distance learners is seen as an element that needs to be emphasized. This justifies the study’s goal, which is to analyze the intrinsic motivation levels of students who get distance education from higher education institutions concerning factors including age, gender, employment, and educational status. The relational survey model, one of the general survey models, was utilized in this study, which included 327 distance learners. In terms of distance education applications, the findings of the study have a guiding nature for the administrators working in higher education institutions. The analyses carried out revealed that there were no significant differences in the intrinsic motivation levels of distance learners according to their gender, employment situation, or level of education. Furthermore, it has been found that as people get older, their intrinsic incentive for learning grows. A list of recommendations based on the data gathered within this study is provided at the end.