Title: How students' autonomous and controlled motivation affects satisfaction in online courses

Authors: Elvis Mazzoni; Agata Błachnio; Aneta Przepiórka; Sabrina Panesi; Martina Benvenuti

Addresses: Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Piazza Aldo Moro, 90, 47521 Cesena, Italy ' Instytut Psychologii, Wydział Nauk Społecznych, Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II, Al. Racławickie 14, 20-950 Lublin, Poland ' Instytut Psychologii, Wydział Nauk Społecznych, Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II, Al. Racławickie 14, 20-950 Lublin, Poland ' CNR, Istituto per le Tecnologie Didattiche (CNR-ITD), Via De Marini, 6, 16149, Genova ' Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Piazza Aldo Moro, 90, 47521 Cesena, Italy

Abstract: This exploratory study aims to analyse whether and how students' motivation affects their satisfaction in online courses during COVID-19 emergency in Italy. Based on the activity theory approach, and on the self-determination theory, the study considers two types of motivation (autonomous vs. controlled) and different aspects of students' satisfaction in online courses related to various types of interaction (learner-content, learner-instructor, learner-learner, learner-technology, and general satisfaction). Results confirm that students with autonomous motivation perceived greater satisfaction in all the considered aspects of online courses, independently using the internet. Implications for designing online courses in university contexts, particularly during emergency period like COVID-19 pandemic, are discussed.

Keywords: activity theory; self-determination theory; students' motivation; students' satisfaction; online courses; functional organs.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTEL.2024.137644

International Journal of Technology Enhanced Learning, 2024 Vol.16 No.2, pp.120 - 133

Received: 02 Jan 2023
Accepted: 14 Apr 2023
Published online: 02 Apr 2024 *

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