Motivation and academic achievement in medical students

Authors

  • Elvira Crespo Camacho Universidad Libre, Colombia
  • Jesús Enrique Iglesias Acosta Universidad Libre, Colombia
  • Jorge Bilbao Ramírez Universidad Libre, Colombia
  • Yeis Borré-Ortiz Borré-Ortiz Universidad Libre, Colombia
  • Alexander Parody Muñoz Universidad Libre, Colombia
  • Gustavo De la Hoz Herrera Universidad Libre, Colombia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14482/sun.41.02.961.200

Keywords:

Motivation, Academic Achievement, Medical Education, Higher Education

Abstract

Objective: Within the framework of the Self-Determination Theory, the objective was to evaluate the incidence of Motivation on the Academic Performance of medical students.

Materials and methods: Descriptive and correlational research was carried out, according to Dankhe's typology. The population was made up of 1,050 enrolled in a medicine program; the sample size was calculated for a 95% confidence interval, a probability of finding a motivation level of 30%, and an error of 0.05%. The information was obtained through the application of an instrument that investigated sociodemographic data and contained the items of the Motivation in Education Scale; Academic performance data were obtained from the Institution Registration Office. The project was approved by an Ethics and Bioethics Committee. Descriptive statistics, simple regression model, one-way analysis of variance, and T-test for comparison of means were applied.

Results: 280 students were surveyed, 61% female. and 39% male, age was 20 ± 1.88 years; The average academic performance on a scale of 1-5 was 3.9. The students in the sample are characterized by an autonomous motivational style; Women were more motivated than men. No relationship between motivation and semester level or academic performance was demonstrated.

Conclusion: There is no association between motivation and academic performance in medical students.

Author Biographies

Elvira Crespo Camacho, Universidad Libre, Colombia

Docente-investigadora, Universidad Libre de Colombia. elviraj.crespoc@unilibre.edu.co. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4966-0037

Jesús Enrique Iglesias Acosta, Universidad Libre, Colombia

Docente titular, Universidad Libre de Colombia. iglesias58@hotmail.com.  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5398-052X

Jorge Bilbao Ramírez, Universidad Libre, Colombia

Docente, Postgrados Médico-Qx, Universidad Libre de Colombia.
jbilbao55@hotmail.com. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7738-0740

Yeis Borré-Ortiz Borré-Ortiz, Universidad Libre, Colombia

Docente-investigador, Universidad Libre de Colombia. yeism.borreo@unilibre.edu.co. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3122-5408

Alexander Parody Muñoz, Universidad Libre, Colombia

Docente-investigador, Universidad Libre de Colombia. alexandere.parodym@unilibre.edu.co. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0155-266X

Gustavo De la Hoz Herrera, Universidad Libre, Colombia

Docente-investigador, Universidad Libre de Colombia. gustavoe.delahozh@unilibre.edu.co. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5296-4333

Published

2025-06-13

How to Cite

Crespo Camacho, E., Iglesias Acosta, J. E., Bilbao Ramírez, J. ., Borré-Ortiz, Y. B.-O., Parody Muñoz, A. ., & De la Hoz Herrera, G. . (2025). Motivation and academic achievement in medical students. SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL SALUD UNINORTE, 41(2), 509–525. https://doi.org/10.14482/sun.41.02.961.200

Issue

Section

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

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