Achievement Motivation In Hispanic University Students: Associations With Reasons For Attending College

Despite the trend of increasing diversity in the United States population, a concomitant increase in research on ethnic differences in achievement motivation has not been observed. As the attainment of an undergraduate degree becomes a necessity for positive life outcomes, further research is needed to assess ethnic minority students’ motivations for pursuing a higher education and how they relate to their levels of achievement motivation in the college classroom. A sample of ethnically diverse undergraduate students (n = 180) completed surveys targeting their achievement motivation (achievement goals and extrinsic/intrinsic motivation), motivations for attending college, and academic performance. Results revealed no ethnic differences in students’ achievement motivation and reasons for attending college, with one exception - Hispanic students were more likely to attend college because of encouragement than were Non-Hispanic White students. Neither achievement motivation nor ethnicity was able to predict students’ academic performance. Students’ achievement motivation orientation better explained reasons for attending college than ethnicity.