Explaining the Difference in Academic Achievement Based on Academic Motivation Profiles of Talented and Normal Students: A Person-Based Approach

The aim of this study was to determine the academic motivation profiles of talented and ordinary undergraduate and graduate students of Tabriz University using individual-based analysis and also to explain the difference between students' academic achievement according to these profiles. The method of this research was descriptive and survey type. According to Morgan's table, 260 students (130 talented and 130 ordinary) were selected from the University of Tabriz. Hierarchical cluster analysis, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) were used to analyze the data using SPSS 21 software. Based on the results of cluster analysis, three motivational clusters in normal students: 36.9% in high quantity cluster (high internal and external motivation and low motivation); 46.9% in average quantity (average levels in all three clusters); 16.2% in low quantity (low internal and external motivation and high motivation) and in talented students 44.6% in high quantity cluster (high internal and external motivation and low motivation); 44.6% in average quantity (average levels in all three clusters); 10.8% were in low quantity (low internal and external motivation and high lack of motivation). Also, the research findings indicate that there is no difference between the academic achievement of gifted and normal students in motivational clusters