Individual Behaviors And Processes

“Education is the key to success” and with a stable mindset and attitude, success should be simply achieved. Right? Maybe not so effortlessly. One must have the desire to prevail and willingness to endure the lengthy, challenging journey of attaining higher education. Furthermore, if an individual has the motivation and drive to persevere in accomplishing a goal, success shall be valuably earned. Due to growing opportunities and progressing access to universities and colleges, diverse groups of people are given better chances to start and/or continue pursuing a degree in higher education.

However, according to the article, “Understanding Student Motivation: A Key to Retention in Higher Education,” written by the authors Elias G. Rizkallah from La Sierra University - School of Business and Victoria Seitz from California State University, San Bernardino - Department of Marketing, “Higher education institutions today more than ever are facing major challenges because of the current decline in student enrollment. ,” (Rizkallah & Seitz, 2017). The serious concern is caused by various aspects, but majorly because of the attitude of students towards their education, worthiness of college education, and, particularly, motivational supports. “Motivation is the set of forces that causes people to engage in one behavior rather than some alternative behavior. ,” (Griffin, Phillips, & Gully, 2017). For instance, a student who prepares to write an essay several weeks before the due date to ensure that his or her paper will have satisfactory result. In other words, motivation is the eagerness of a person to accomplish a goal.

The article is regarding the investigation of “what motivates college students at different stages of their academic studies,” (Rizkallah & Seitz, 2017). In addition, another purpose of the study was to conclude if student “motivations changed throughout their academic careers,” (Rizkallah & Seitz, 2017). To support the conclusion, the researchers conducted a survey using Herzberg’s two-factory theory. The theory states that there are certain task factors in an organization that result in satisfaction while there are some other engagement circumstances that cause dissatisfaction (Management Study Guide, 2018). Student engagement is complex; it consists of many factors that collaborate in diversified ways to strengthen engagement or provoke disengagement (Zepke & Leach, 2010). Strictly speaking, every individual is unique. Individual differences are special characteristics that differ between each person; these differences include personality, intelligence, learning styles, attitudes, values and emotions, perception, and stress (Griffin, Phillips, & Gully, 2017). Personal characteristics contribute to students’ performance in their academic activities depending on the circumstances. “Understanding the needs and wants as well as the motivation of both prospective and current students is the cornerstone of satisfying them throughout their years in the institution and probably keeping them for life as alumni. ,” (Rizkallah & Seitz, 2017).

So, what can the institutions and educators do to enhance the engagement and success of prospective and current students? “Higher education is a service and providers should aspire to meet students’ expectation at the outset and keep them satisfied and motivated during their university experience to win them for life. ,” (Rizkallah & Seitz, 2017). In other words, students’ decisions in their career paths or educational goals shift throughout their academic experiences that result in a contrasting contentment compared to their initial gratification. “If teachers meet students’ needs for competence, relatedness and autonomy then students will become more self-determined and thereby authentically engaged in learning. ,” (Saeed & Zyngier, 2012). Higher education providers will need to be adjusted correspondingly; educators must reevaluate their enrollment and retention procedures to ameliorate students’ satisfaction with their academic involvement all through with their college careers. The aim is to motivate people to perform in ways that will benefit themselves and the organization.