Strategies of learning and academic motivation in university students of Buenos Aires

This paper intends the analysis of learning strategies and motivation in 185 college students from Buenos Aires, attending diverse careers (45.4% male, 54.6% female) aged between 19 and 33 years (M = 21.88, SD = 2.57). Data from 185 high- schoolers (41.3% male, 58.7% female) from 13 to 20 years (M = 15.60, SD = 1.53) were used as a comparison group. A demographic and academic survey was employed, as well as the local versions of the Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (Stover, Uriel & Fernandez Liporace, 2012) and the Academic Motivation Scale (Stover, de la Iglesia, Rial Boubeta & Fernandez Liporace, 2012). Results indicated intrinsic motivational profiles and significantly more use of learning strategies in college students, as well as in those attending Humanistic careers and those showing better academic achievement. When examining relationships between motivation and learning strategies intrinsic motivation types were found as positively associated to the use of strategies, while extrinsic profiles were related to less use of strategies. Findings are useful for professionals working at educational institutions in order to design didactic programs, adequate to students features.nd for testing the plausibility of hypotheses and theoretical propositions.