Relationship between academic motivation and student alienation: A study of undergraduate students of sports sciences

The aim of the study was to determine the correlation between academic motivation and alienation of undergraduate students attending different departments in the field of sports sciences. The 671 undergraduate students participating in the study were receiving higher education in the field of sports sciences at Ege University, Faculty of Sports Sciences, in Izmir. The data for the study were collected through two different measurement instruments, namely the Student Alienation Scale and the Academic Motivation Scale. The results of the canonical correlation analysis show significance in the first two canonical functions for the sample groups attending the Physical Education and Sports Teaching and Coaching Education departments, whereas the first three canonical functions were found to be significant for Sports Management. In the evaluation of the canonical pairs obtained, it can be seen that the weakness and amotivation subscales stand out in the first function in all groups. Within the scope of the second function, while the “anomy” and “extrinsic motivation – external regulation” scales are notable in the sports management group, the “weakness” and “extrinsic motivation – introjected regulation” scales are prominent in the groups. As for the third canonical function, the “intrinsic motivation to accomplish” and “isolation” scales underpin the relation for sports management students. The internal dynamics caused by the differences among departments based on their curricula may be the reason behind the differentiation within the relationship spiral. In addition, conditions of graduate employment and students’ gains based on sporting experience affect academic motivation and alienation states. © 2020, FACTEACHEREDUCATION. All rights reserved