All You Need is Self-Determination: Investigation of PhD Students’ Motivation Profiles and Their Impact on the Doctoral Completion Process

Abstract

Aim/Purpose The present study aimed at (1) identifying the naturally occurring patterns of motivation among doctoral students and (2) assessing their impact on the doctoral completion process. Background Grounded in the self-determination theory, the paper investigated needs satisfaction and the doctoral completion process. Methodology Two complementary methods were used. First, k-mean clustering was used to classify 461 doctoral students according to their feelings of competence, autonomy and relatedness. Second, the completion process of these five profiles was investigated through multi-group path analyses. Contribution This paper provided a motivational perspective on doctoral completion process that highlighted significant individual differences. Investigation of PhD Students Motivation Profiles 190 Findings Five profiles were identified corresponding to different combinations of satisfaction of their innate psychological needs. The results also revealed significant differences in the completion process from one motivation profile to another. Recommendations for Practitioners The doctoral supervision needs to consider the specificities of the patterns of motivation among doctoral students. Recommendations for Researchers A more important investigation of motivational patterns is required to fully understand the doctoral completion process. Impact on Society A better consideration of motivational profiles would increase doctoral students’ well-being and their persistence. Future Research The effect of motivation and context on student satisfaction and professional efficiency could be further explored.