Document Type
Thesis
Degree
Master of Arts
Department
African – New World Studies
Advisor's Name
Hilary Landorf
Advisor's Title
Committee Chair
Advisor's Name
Alexandra Cornelius-Diallo
Advisor's Name
Linda Spears-Bunton
Keywords
Motivation, Social Studies, High School, Self-Determination Theory
Date of Defense
3-23-2011
Abstract
This study investigated how students perceived their motivation in high school social studies classes in school and to determine if a correlation exists between students’ grade level, race, gender, and their motivation. The sample included 337 high school students in Broward County, Florida.
To assess students’ perceptions on their motivation the academic self-regulation questionnaire was utilized. Results indicate that social studies students show high levels of external regulation, with a mean score at 22.31 on a scale of 36 points. The results show a mean score of 24 on a scale of 28 points for identified regulation among social studies students.
Findings revealed that student motivation could be gauged. No statistical significance was found between high school students’ grade level, race, gender, and their motivation in social studies classes. The findings of this study have shown that students at Boyd H. Anderson High School want to learn social studies.
Recommended Citation
Fernandez, Roberto III, "Self-Determination Theory and Student Motivation in Social Studies in an Urban Broward County Public High School" (2011). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 355.
http://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/355