Analysis of motivation factors of students in a selected subject at the Faculty of Economics and Management, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra

One of the main tasks of education should be the increase in student's motivation to learn. Internal motivation, teacher's personality, education methods, education environment and other incentives belong to motivation factors influencing the student's learning. The article focuses on the assessment of student's motivation in the subject of Basics of Accounting at a bachelor study, as well as the determination of motivation factors affecting students. The basic information source of article's content solution represents a questionnaire survey aimed to confirm or refute the hypothesis of the survey. The survey was conducted on a representative sample of respondents created by available and random selection, representing 87 students of the first year of full-time bachelor study at the Faculty of Economics and Management, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra. Standard methods of scientific work as selection, analysis, synthesis and deduction are used in the article. Individual items of scale questionnaire and the differences between these items were assessed by means of selected statistical methods, namely the selection of descriptive characteristics such as point and interval estimation of average, standard error of estimate of mean and standard deviation, as well as non-parametric tests: Mauchly's sphericity test and Friedman test to determine the significance of differences between items of the questionnaire. Based on the statistical assessment of the questionnaire outcome, it results that previously acquired knowledge and skills from completed basic economic subjects partially helped students in the study of accounting, and furthermore students used their skills and talents in the study. The subject Basics of Accounting was studied without adequate motivation and as a last resort. Lectures on and exercises in accounting, its scope and content were partially motivating for students. Students' interest in accounting was partially conditioned by the teacher's personality. Students seek information from other than recommended literary sources, as well use expert advice for the study of accounting. Attending the subject Basics of Accounting is for students a motivation with respect to their future position. Students should partially decide to pass this subject again. Based on the obtained results we conclude that the hypothesis is partially confirmed by the survey. The results of testing the differences between individual questionnaire items showed that there were statistically significant differences between these items and thus dependence was found between them. The essential condition for learning is the motivation that affects the results of learning in different situations. Motivation determines intrinsic activation of students resulting from their needs and is relevant to their claims. Motives present the intrinsic motives or incentives, activities designed to achieve a specific objective. They can be considered as the reasons for student's behaviour. For each individual there are many different motives that are interrelated and constitute a form of hierarchy. It is important to choose a correct school for a successful study. The student should choose a school based on how he/she may develop and on factors which may satisfy his/her needs for self-realization. An important motivating factor for the choice of school and future job are skills and talents of student, interest in an area and the perspective of a future career in a department.