Motivation and Achievement of Malaysian Students in Studying Matriculation Biology

The motivation of 19 year old Matriculation students to learn Biology was investigated within the framework of the social cognitive theory. One hundred and forty three students responded on the Science Motivation Questionnaire II (SMQII) on motivation components that included intrinsic motivation, self-efficacy, self-determination, career motivation, and grade motivation. This study is significant because it is a pioneer quantitative study on the motivation and achievement of matriculation students. The study revealed was that extrinsic motivation was higher than intrinsic motivation; and grade motivation significantly exceeded intrinsic motivation. Female students had statistically higher self-determination, career motivation and grade motivation. However, boys had higher self-efficacy, and higher achievement in Biology, but these were not statistically significant. Mean total motivation had the highest correlation to achievement, followed by self-efficacy. Mean total motivation accounted for 12.9% of the variance in achievement. The researchers recommend that extrinsic motivation needs to be used with thought and wisdom, in the given situation in this country where students are more extrinsically than intrinsically motivated, to motivate students to acquire knowledge and higher order skills that are much needed, if Malaysia is to achieve its vision of being a scientific country that contributes to the progress of science and technology.