Educational Motivation and its Relationship with some Factors among the Students of Golestan University of Medical Sciences

Background & Objective : Human resources and their education is the core of development in different fields and motivation is the driving engine of learning .Since changing in learner's behavior needs to assess motivation related factors and their efficacy, This research was aimed to study some factors affecting on students motivation in Golestan University of Medical Sciences. Methods : In 2006 this descriptive-analytic study was carried out on the students (n=535) who have at least passed one semester of clinical training course. Data were collected by the Situational Motivation Scale (SIMS) and a researcher made questionnaire dealing with the related factors (the students' welfare office, college education, educational and therapeutic center and career prospects) which its validity and reliability was approved. Results : Among 474 participated subjects (response rate 88.6%), 73.2% are females, no one was totally unmotivated and most of them (52.5%) are motivated. There were direct, weak and significant relationships between educational motivation and four related factors (P=0.001) but it is not true for gender and field of study. The least correlation factor (r=0.14) is related to educational and therapeutic center and the most to college education (r=0.24) Conclusion : In spite of the significant correlation between motivation and four related factors and below moderate motivation in 46.9% of the students, we suggest universities' educational authorities to pay enough attention to these points, Although the career prospect is out of universities areas of responsibility and it seeks a great national attempt. Keywords: Educational motivation, Students, Motivation related factors, University of Medical Sciences