2026· International journal of research and innovation in social science· 0 citations
TL;DR
The results support the Self-Determination Theory as a valid framework for online learning motivation and show that ChatGPT can promote learners' competence, autonomy, and relatedness if responsibly integrated into online learning settings.
Abstract
Growing use of generative AI technologies like ChatGPT has changed online learning and increased student motivation. This study explores online learning motivation and ChatGPT using Self-Determination Theory (SDT) to examine competence, autonomy, and relatedness in online learners. 189 academics from various fields participated in a quantitative survey. A five-point Likert scale-based 52-item questionnaire was derived from Ryan and Deci (2000), Fowler (2018), and Youssef et al. (2024). Competence, autonomy, and relatedness were not gender-specific across academic groupings. In the descriptive study, students rated the AI system's function in critical thinking, academic accomplishment, engagement, and learning motivation positively. The greatest competency item was students' practice of cross-checking ChatGPT knowledge with independent study (M = 4.06), whereas the most autonomous item was achieving good grades (M = 4.59). Relatedness was strong in social engagement and teacher support. They liked class discussions (M = 4.00) and found course materials meaningful (M = 4.28). Positive correlations were found between competence, autonomy (r =.550, p <.001), and competence and relatedness (r =.551, p <.001). The results support the Self-Determination Theory as a valid framework for online learning motivation and show that ChatGPT can promote learners' competence, autonomy, and relatedness if responsibly integrated into online learning settings. The work has major theoretical, pedagogical, and practical consequences for higher education AI-assisted learning.
Examination of the relationship between competence, autonomy, and relatedness in academic writing in the context of ChatGPT usage shows positive perceptions of using ChatGPT in improving academic achievement, critical thinking skills, and the motivation of students.
Julina Munchar, T. A. Buhari, Sharifah Shahnaz Syed Husain et al.· International journal of res...· 0 citations
This study assesses student motivation in online learning environments, with the purpose of exploring how affiliation influences learners’ power and achievement in university learning. The study is guided by McClelland’s Theory of Needs (1965) and Fowler’s (2018) online motivation framework, which frame motivation through affiliation, power, and achievement. The research problem concerns the difficulty of sustaining motivation online, where students may experience isolation, reduced focus, and heavy demands for self-discipline despite the normalisation of virtual education. A quantitative survey design was employed using a convenient sample of 199 students. Data were collected through a five-point Likert-scale questionnaire adapted from Fowler’s motivation to learn online instrument and analysed using descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, t-tests, and Pearson correlation in SPSS. The findings showed no significant differences in online motivation across gender, clusters, education background, and academic years, suggesting that demographic factors were not the main source of motivational variation. The findings also revealed that learners perceived affiliation, power, and achievement positively, while affiliation had strong positive relationships with both power and achievement. Overall, online motivation appears to depend strongly on meaningful connection and instructor support. The study implies that educators should design affiliation-rich online learning environments, while future research should use mixed-method approaches to examine learner motivation.
Amir Lukman Abd Rahman, Wan Muhammad Fitri Wan Amir Nizam, Shirley Clare Jeri et al.· International journal of res...· 0 citations
Language learning strategies (LLS) are central to second language acquisition, and their success depends on learner motivation. This study looks at how autonomy, competence, and relatedness shape the experiences of Malaysian undergraduates, using Self-Determination Theory (SDT) as the framework. These three needs have not been studied in depth in the Malaysian context. The study set out to examine how learners perceive these needs, how they are connected, and whether differences exist across academic disciplines. Four hypotheses were developed to guide the research. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire with 42 items: competence (19), autonomy (11), and relatedness (12). A total of 218 undergraduates from Malaysia’s largest public university took part. Responses were rated on a Likert scale, and reliability was confirmed using Cronbach’s Alpha. The findings show that learners reported moderately high engagement in autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Significant positive correlations were found among the three needs, confirming their close relationship in language learning. This study suggests that motivational support and strategic training should be integrated into educational methods. It encourages future research to extend this framework to multiple contexts and disciplines to deepen our understanding of language learning.
N. Abas, Nadiah Zubbir, Noor Hanim Rahmat et al.· International journal of res...· 0 citations
This study proposes that digital learning design quality (DLQ), assessment transparency (AT), and perceived challenge-based learning (PCBL) contribute to students’ perceived career readiness by strengthening their academic confidence and self-regulatory ability.
Thanh Long Vu, Phuc Khanh Nguyen, Lai Anh Tuan Doan et al.· Multidisciplinary Science Jo...· 0 citations
This study investigated how college students’ use of ChatGPT has evolved from a tool for simply getting answers to one that supports motivation and learning engagement. Using a novel survey instrument based on Self-Determination Theory, we measured six types of motivation, three intrinsic, two extrinsic, and amotivation, across two cohorts of students (2023 and 2025). Results revealed statistically significant increases in both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation over time. While early use of ChatGPT focused on convenience and task completion, students increasingly reported using it to overcome mental blocks, build momentum, and stay engaged with their academic work. Follow-up analyses of repeat participants and comparisons by class standing suggest these trends reflect broader shifts in student engagement, not just cohort or experience differences. Cluster analysis revealed distinct motivational profiles, highlighting variation in how students incorporate ChatGPT into their academic routines. These findings suggest that as generative artificial intelligence becomes more familiar, accessible, and sophisticated, students are integrating it more deeply into their learning processes, not just for answers, but for sustained motivation and support.
Jayne Ann Harder, C. E. Klehm, A. Lang et al.· Artificial Intelligence and...· 0 citations
We examined the relationships between self-directed learning skills, university belonging, and student engagement in open online and distance learning environments within the framework of Self-Determination Theory. The research was conducted using a correlational survey model. Data were collected from 696 university students enrolled at a large-scale open, online and distance learning institution in Türkiye. We used three instruments measuring self-directed learning skills, university belonging, and student engagement. The data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling. The findings indicate that university belonging significantly and positively predicts all dimensions of student engagement. While self-control skills, learning skills, and sustaining the desire to learn significantly explain university belonging, metacognitive awareness and ability to identify sources were found to have no significant effect. Furthermore, it was found that university belonging acts as a significant mechanism in the relationships between self-control skills, learning skills, and sustaining the desire to learn, and student engagement. In this open and distance learning context, student engagement was not explained by individual learning skills alone. University belonging may therefore be one mechanism that partly accounts for the association between self-directed learning and academic participation. The study contributes by testing self-directed learning at the level of its dimensions, by identifying university belonging as a mechanism that partly accounts for its association with engagement, and by situating this model in a large-scale open and distance learning setting.
Bünyamin Kayalı, Mehmet Yavuz, Ayşin Gaye Üstün et al.· Education sciences· 0 citations
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