Effects of Social Problem-solving on Academic Motivation: An Examination of Longitudinal Data

Abstract

Academic motivation, as well as social problem-solving, is significant for college students. However, the relationship between the two constructs has been given only a little attention. The main purpose of this study was to assess the effects of social problem-solving on academic motivation by using longitudinal data. In this study, academic motivation was assessed based on the self-determination theory. Participants were 362 college students (mean age 20.45 years). The participants completed questionnaires twice, at Time 1 and Time 2, with a four-week interval. The questionnaires contained two scales: (1) the Japanese versions of the social problem-solving scale, which is comprises the social problem-solving scale and problem-solving skills scale, and (2) the academic motivation scale, which assesses the five regulatory styles, which refer to the types of motivation based on the self-determination theory. Hierarchical regression analyses were performed to examine whether social problem-solving was related to academic motivation in Time 2, even after controlling for age, sex, grade, and academic motivation in Time 1. The results showed that social problem-solving was a significant predictor of all the regulatory styles and autonomy for academic motivation. Of the two subscales of the social problem-solving scale, the scores on the problem-solving self-efficacy scale were positively related to scores for intrinsic regulatory style and autonomy for academic motivation. In contrast, the scores on the problem-solving skills scale were negatively related to scores for amotivation and controlled motivation, and positively related to scores for autonomous motivation and autonomy for academic motivation. Implications for the influence of social problem-solving on autonomy for academic motivation are discussed and suggestions for future research are made.