Motivation as a basis for college students’ professional self-determination in continuous education

Abstract

This article discusses the problem of motivation in psychological and pedagogical support of professional self-determination as part of continuous education. We believe that professional potential should start developing in school and continue doing so throughout a person’s entire life regardless of changes in his or her focus area or pursuit of education in a new field. The pilot study revealed the presence of a problem with professional self-determination during the period of study at the college, which led to the decision to conduct an initial psychological assessment. The aim of the initial psychological assessment at the college of National Research Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod – was to study the relationship between personality traits and the value-motivational sphere of the students. Correlation analysis of the psychological assessment results using the 16-factor questionnaire (R. B. Cattell), the motivation to avoid failure diagnostic method (T. Ehlers), the terminal values questionnaire (I. G. Senin), and the motivation to study at university diagnostic method (T. I. Ilyina) revealed significant relationships between personality traits and value orientations, the motive to avoid failure, and learning motivation. To assist students with building proper educational motivation and overcoming the crisis of professional self-determination, we have developed and introduced a model of psychological and pedagogical support for students in secondary vocational education programs. It is aimed at fostering professional self-determination in this group of students to ensure the most effective development of their professional identity. When implemented, the model enabled positive changes in the structure of learning motivation and professional identity of students at the Department of Secondary Vocational Education at the Institute of Economics and Entrepreneurship, National Research Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod.