Statistical reasoning of impact of motivation on students' achievement in foreign language learning

This research focuses on statistical reasoning in motivation issues in learning a foreign language. The opinions of university students studying at different departments and taking a foreign language course have been investigated through 43 statements related to motivation issues in order to find out their opinions on motivation sources in general, classroom motivation sources and motivation problems that arise or they encounter during their foreign language studies. The responses of participants through all the statements were in very close line with each other, without revealing any significant difference. The relation between the participants achievement level in foreign language courses and motivation revealed contradiction as the respondents claim lack of motivation but have a achievement level over the minimum pass level. This result reveals that in terms of statistical reasoning there is a contradiction between negative motivation and positive achievement. (C) 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.