Variations in Academic Motivation among School Students in West Bengal

This study investigates the variations in academic motivation among school students in West Bengal, considering key demographic and socio-economic factors such as gender, locality, grade level, academic stream, and socio-economic status (SES). A total of 1,142 students from selected districts (Nadia, Bankura, East Burdwan, Murshidabad, and Cooch Behar) participated in the study, which employed a multistage sampling technique. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including t-tests. The results revealed significant differences in academic motivation based on gender, locality, academic stream, and SES. Male students exhibited higher academic motivation compared to female students, while urban students demonstrated greater motivation than their rural counterparts. No significant difference in motivation was found between 9th and 11th-grade students. Among 11th-grade students, those in the science stream showed higher motivation than their peers in the arts stream. Furthermore, APL students had significantly higher motivation than BPL students, highlighting the influence of socio-economic factors. The findings underscore the importance of addressing these disparities to create a more equitable educational environment.