The types of intrinsic motivation as predictors of academic achievement: the mediating role of deep learning strategy

The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between types of intrinsic motivation and academic achievement through a deep learning strategy. Specifically, the study focused on the intrinsic motivation to know, the intrinsic motivation to experience stimulation, and the intrinsic motivation toward accomplishment. Participants were 310 randomly sampled university students. The descriptive, correlational, and mediation analyses were applied to the data. Results show that the intrinsic motivation to know was positively and directly related to academic achievement. However, the intrinsic motivation to experience stimulation and the intrinsic motivation toward accomplishment were not directly related to academic achievement. Regarding mediation effects, the deep strategy of learning mediated the relationship between the intrinsic motivation to know and academic achievement, as well as between the intrinsic motivation to experience stimulation and academic achievement. These results show that intrinsic motivation to know was positively and directly related to academic achievement, while the link between intrinsic motivation to experience stimulation and academic achievement was significant only indirectly via deep learning strategy. This study emphasizes awareness-raising interventions for the academic community about the effects that types of intrinsic motivation may have in relation to learning strategies in academic achievements.