Empowerment through intrinsic motivation and self-efficacy: How personality traits influence rural practice in agricultural students?
Journal
Personality Traits and Types: Perceptions, Gender Differences and Impact on Behavior
Pages
109-132
ISBN
9781634832526; 9781634832250
Date Issued
2015
Author(s)
Liang C.
Abstract
Farming practice and career development in rural areas have become critical for ensuring increased job security, profitability, food productivity, environmental sustainability and ecological diversity. A thorough understanding of how relevant psychological factors affect the attitudes of agricultural students towards farming practice in rural areaswould greatly benefit rural development and agricultural education. The current study aimed to test the mediating effects of intrinsic motivation and self-efficacy regarding personality traits and rural practice in agriculture students. We first confirmed the factor structures of the scales of the personality traits, intrinsic motivation, self-efficacy, and rural practice (n = 210), and then examined the mediating roles of intrinsic motivation and self-efficacy between personality traits and rural practice in agriculture students (n = 440). The results determined personality traits to be substantially associated with rural practice as well as partially mediated by both intrinsic motivation and self-efficacy. Through intrinsic motivation and self-efficacy, a structural equation model revealed that the predictive validity of agreeableness exceeded that of other traits, followed by openness and neuroticism. The investigation of intrinsic motivation and self-efficacy provides a dynamic approach to understanding how rural practitioners are cultivated. This examination also provides insight into the broader cognitive process involved in the formation of attitudes and intentions leading to actions. The results provide a foundation for further investigation regarding the association between motivation and efficacy in academic performance and in chosen career paths, and the linkage to student selection, coursework design, internship arrangement, and placement development. © 2015 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.
SDGs
Type
book part