Relationships Between the Profiles of Middle School Students' Attitudes Towards Turkish Course and Motivations for Education

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the profiles of 6th grade students' attitudes towards Turkish course and examine the relationships between these profiles and motivations for education. A survey method with exploratory correlational design was adopted in the present study. A total of 374 students voluntarily participated in the study. Data were obtained through the application of Turkish Course Attitude Scale and Motivation in Education Scale. Profiles of students' attitudes towards Turkish course were examined through hierarchical cluster analysis; whereas the relationships between these profiles and motivations for education were examined through correlation and logistic regression analyses. The findings demonstrated that the students' attitudes towards Turkish course could be described through two significant cluster patterns, entitled 'positive attitude' and 'negative attitude'. The findings also demonstrated that intrinsic motivation and amotivation variables were selectively and significantly related to the cluster patterns. Implications for education and directions for future studies were also discussed in the study.