Achievement Motivation Among Islamic Studies Students and its Correlation With Problem Based Learning and Self-Efficacy

Background and Purpose: Achievement Motivation defines motivation as a concept that forecasts the behavioural inclination to strive for success and performance based on a person's urge for achievement. The purpose of this study was to examine the link between academic self-efficacy and problem-based learning (PBL) and achievement motivation among students of Islamic studies.

Methodology: A quantitative research design was used for this explanatory investigation. 578 undergraduate students from three institutions in Malaysia—UM, IIUM, and USIM—totaled took part in the study. The participants were chosen at random. Both descriptive statistics and regression analysis were used to analyse the data set. Additionally, an intergroup comparison analysis and the independent sample t-test were performed.

Results: The results of an independent sample t-test showed a significant difference in the mean achievement motivation scores between students of applied Islamic studies (M = 3.31, SD =.41) and those of non-applied Islamic studies (M = 3.04, SD =.38). This difference is statistically significant at t (575) = -7.94, p =.00. When ASE was controlled, PBL's influence on AchM diminished (Sobel z= 3.83, p=0.00), indicating that ASE was the mediator of the relationship between PBL and AchM. F (7, 570) = 22.42, p .0005, adj. R2 =.206, multiple regression substantially predicted ASE. The outcome demonstrates that the method used to solve problems and the kind of programs used may both be effective predictors of students' academic self-efficacy in Islamic studies.

Contribution: The study concludes that achievement has a big impact on students’ motivation. The findings of the study may contribute to the departments of Islamic studies and the Ministry of Higher Education in Malaysia (MoHE) in understanding the present issue of achievement motivation, as the ministry's goal is to increase students' self-efficacy. The study has implications on Islamic Studies students at higher learning institutions to boost their motivation