A Correlation Study of Personal Growth Initiative and Academic Motivation in Students

Understanding the direction, one is headed towards and the academic motivation to persist is central for a student to flourish academically. This study investigated the role of personal growth initiative of students on their academic motivation. Three hundred students, with equal number of male and female participants were sampled from high schools and colleges in Kolkata. Data was collected via questionnaire containing standardized measures and following the inclusion criteria. The study was a correlational design. Personal Growth Initiative-II scale by Robitschek (2012) and Academic Motivation Scale by Vallerand (1992) were used for data collection. For analysing data, parametric statistical techniques were used. The study revealed a significant positive relationship between personal growth initiative and academic motivation (r=0.24, p<0.01). The study further revealed Intrinsic motivation dimensions had a stronger correlational relationship with Personal Growth Initiative, than Extrinsic motivation dimensions. Amotivation however, had no correlation with Personal Growth Initiative. This study concluded that nurturing personal growth initiative in students can improve their academic motivation. Thus, one of the possible interventions for students who struggle with academic motivation would be a workshop addressing personal growth initiative. Future directions for this research are discussed.