Campus Location
Dallas Campus (Online)
Date of Award
7-2020
ORCID
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5970-7604
Document Type
Dissertation
Department
Organizational Leadership
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Committee Chair or Primary Advisor
Bradley Thompson
Second Committee Member or Secondary Advisor
Tara Hornor
Third Committee Member or Committee Reader
Bill Hunt
Abstract
It has been said that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The National Center for Education Statistics reports that 30% of students who graduated from high school do not enroll in college (NCES, 2018). This phenomenological study integrates several instruments to identify the motivational elements of amotivation, autonomy, extrinsic, and intrinsic motivational stimuli. The research data reveal that intrinsic motivational factors play a more significant role in the decision-making process. The participants in this study revealed their extrinsic and intrinsic motivation for postsecondary endeavors by articulating how they perceive decision-making for their actions. Participants of dual- and single-parent households scored higher for extrinsic over intrinsic factors. The data leads to the conclusion that students of dual-parent households have a great idea of individualism, but a greater need to prove themselves to others through a fear of failure. It was also determined that students of single-parent households are reluctant to make decisions on their own through an increased fear of failure. Engagement, and the values of desire and hope, lead to the application of intrinsic decision-making. Educators and learners have reached a fork in the road.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Leach, John R. Jr., "The Motivations Toward Decisions in Delaying to Apply for College: High School Seniors of Single Parent Households" (2020). Digital Commons @ ACU, Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 242.
https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/etd/242
Included in
Educational Leadership Commons, Educational Psychology Commons, Secondary Education Commons
Comments
The compass for the journey in the presented research pointed toward the question of decision-making for postsecondary endeavors. Self-determination theory claims that individuals have a “wholly” trinity of fundamental psychological requirements; autonomy, competence, and relatedness. It has been ascertained that when these psychological requirements are met in students, their decision-making process and well-being substantially increases (Ryan & Deci, 2009). The data from the presented research indicates the higher the intrinsic factors, the greater the motivation to flourish, and that a higher need for extrinsic factors, do not necessarily lead to lower motivation. Educators and learners have reached a fork in the road. To take the path to encourage autonomy, engagement, and motivation to flourish through informed decisions.