Delving Into The Motivational Factors Among Iraqi University Students

Abstract

Motivational factors have inspired university students to make considerable amount of effort in their language accomplishment. To stretch this line of inquiry, the present study adopted a mixed-method approach to identify the role of motivational factors in iraqi university students. To achieve this purpose, 200 students were selected based on the convenience sampling from various universities in iraq. The participants were required to fill in mtb designed by gardner (1985). Moreover, through running semi-structured interviews, the researchers delved into the motivational orientations of the participants. To analyze quantitative data, t-test was employed. In the qualitative phase, the obtained data was recorded, transcribed, and analyzed based on thematic analysis. In this regard, eight themes were emerged encompassing intrinsic and extrinsic motivational resources. Factors including being an english teacher, personal development, interest in learning english were categorized as intrinsic motivational sources while factors such as seeking job opportunity, maintaining education abroad, travelling, and enhancing professional competencies were detected as extrinsic motivational sources. Furthermore, the findings were discussed and interpreted in light of empirical findings and several implications were proposed for policymakers and university instructors.