Types of learning motivation in Tabriz high school students: A person-oriented analysis

This study examined students’ profiles regarding motivation orientations and tested whether profile groups differed on metacognitive competencies. The study was performed on Tabriz high school students. The instruments employed in the study were The Academic Motivation Scale and Students’ Motivational-Metacognitive Competencies Questionnaire. The results revealed 4 profile groups: (a) students with low level of both controlled and autonomous motivation, but high level of amotivation (b) students with moderate level of controlled motivation, but high level of amotivation, (c) students with high level of both autonomous and controlled motivation, but low level of amotivation and (d) students with high level of autonomus motivation. In addition,it was found that students in the high autonomous/high controlled group reported the highest degree of metacognitive competencies. Hierarchical cluster analysis method, discriminant analysis and MANOVA was used to determine the optimal cluster structure of students.