Graduate School Professors' Motivation and Teaching Effectiveness: An Ex-Post Facto Analysis

Abstract

In this research study, the intricate relationship between the motivations of graduate school professors and their effectiveness as educators in the dynamic context of graduate education is explored. Employing an ex-post facto research design, pre-existing data were analyzed to investigate the multifaceted connections between professors' motivations and teaching effectiveness. The study encompassed survey data from a diverse sample of professors representing various academic disciplines, including inquiries regarding motivations for teaching, teaching practices, and institutional demographics. The findings unveiled the coexistence of intrinsic and extrinsic motivations among professors, underscoring the complexity of their commitment to teaching. Intrinsic motivations, grounded in a profound passion for teaching and a genuine desire to positively impact students, emerged as robust predictors of effective teaching. Conversely, extrinsic motivations, such as career advancement and institutional recognition, also played a role but were less influential. Through correlation and regression analyses, the research demonstrated a positive and significant relationship between professors' intrinsic motivations and teaching effectiveness, even after controlling for covariates such as years of teaching experience and academic discipline. The identified discipline-specific variations underscored the necessity for tailored approaches to faculty development and support. These findings carry profound implications for graduate education institutions, administrators, and policymakers. They emphasize the pivotal role of intrinsic motivations in shaping effective teaching practices and highlight the importance of cultivating a teaching-centric culture. The study's implications call for faculty development programs that nurture and cultivate intrinsic motivations, discipline-specific approaches to support professors, and recognition and reward systems that celebrate teaching excellence. This research contributes significantly to our understanding of the vital connection between professors' motivations and teaching effectiveness within the context of graduate education. It underscores the significance of nurturing these motivations to foster a dynamic and responsive educational environment, benefiting both educators and learners in their pursuit of teaching excellence.