Learning motivation among international students: the role of demographic factors

Abstract This study examined learning motivation among international students in Taiwan, particularly with respect to differences across various demographic variables and the relationships among these factors, including the ability of some factors to serve as predictors. A total of 260 questionnaire...

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Main Authors: Tsai-Fu Chuang, Mei-Hui Lin, Tsaur-Chin Wu, Ming-Da Chuang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-08-01
Series:BMC Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03244-4
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author Tsai-Fu Chuang
Mei-Hui Lin
Tsaur-Chin Wu
Ming-Da Chuang
author_facet Tsai-Fu Chuang
Mei-Hui Lin
Tsaur-Chin Wu
Ming-Da Chuang
author_sort Tsai-Fu Chuang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study examined learning motivation among international students in Taiwan, particularly with respect to differences across various demographic variables and the relationships among these factors, including the ability of some factors to serve as predictors. A total of 260 questionnaires were collected, 210 of which represented valid responses, for an effective sample recovery rate of 80.77%. The process of data analysis included descriptive statistics, t tests, a one-way analysis of variance, correlation analysis, and stepwise multiple regression. The results revealed that students exhibited high levels of intrinsic goal orientation, extrinsic motivation, and task value but only moderate levels of learning beliefs and self-efficacy as well as low levels of emotions, test anxiety, and overall motivation. Significant differences were observed in students’ learning beliefs across different genders and academic disciplines, and significant differences in self-efficacy, test anxiety, and overall motivation were observed across students from different academic years. Gender and academic year were significantly correlated with overall motivation, self-efficacy and learning beliefs, and both characteristics were significant predictors of these factors. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions aimed at enhancing international students' academic experiences by addressing the complex interactions between demographic factors and learning motivation.
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spelling doaj-art-2ab5e3f8aa1b4b57a4172f5d59de01282025-08-20T03:46:17ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832025-08-0113111210.1186/s40359-025-03244-4Learning motivation among international students: the role of demographic factorsTsai-Fu Chuang0Mei-Hui Lin1Tsaur-Chin Wu2Ming-Da Chuang3Department of Civil Engineering, Feng Chia UniversityDepartment of Public Finance, Feng Chia UniversityDepartment of Public Finance, Feng Chia UniversityDepartment of Computer Science and Engineering, National Chung Hsing UniversityAbstract This study examined learning motivation among international students in Taiwan, particularly with respect to differences across various demographic variables and the relationships among these factors, including the ability of some factors to serve as predictors. A total of 260 questionnaires were collected, 210 of which represented valid responses, for an effective sample recovery rate of 80.77%. The process of data analysis included descriptive statistics, t tests, a one-way analysis of variance, correlation analysis, and stepwise multiple regression. The results revealed that students exhibited high levels of intrinsic goal orientation, extrinsic motivation, and task value but only moderate levels of learning beliefs and self-efficacy as well as low levels of emotions, test anxiety, and overall motivation. Significant differences were observed in students’ learning beliefs across different genders and academic disciplines, and significant differences in self-efficacy, test anxiety, and overall motivation were observed across students from different academic years. Gender and academic year were significantly correlated with overall motivation, self-efficacy and learning beliefs, and both characteristics were significant predictors of these factors. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions aimed at enhancing international students' academic experiences by addressing the complex interactions between demographic factors and learning motivation.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03244-4Intrinsic and extrinsic motivationLearning beliefsSelf-efficacyTask valueTest anxiety
spellingShingle Tsai-Fu Chuang
Mei-Hui Lin
Tsaur-Chin Wu
Ming-Da Chuang
Learning motivation among international students: the role of demographic factors
BMC Psychology
Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation
Learning beliefs
Self-efficacy
Task value
Test anxiety
title Learning motivation among international students: the role of demographic factors
title_full Learning motivation among international students: the role of demographic factors
title_fullStr Learning motivation among international students: the role of demographic factors
title_full_unstemmed Learning motivation among international students: the role of demographic factors
title_short Learning motivation among international students: the role of demographic factors
title_sort learning motivation among international students the role of demographic factors
topic Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation
Learning beliefs
Self-efficacy
Task value
Test anxiety
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03244-4
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