Abstract:
Background: It is crucial to evaluate student academic motivation and self‐directed
learning (SDL) readiness while teaching online or flexibly. During the coronavirus
disease 2019 pandemic, there were few investigations on the link between academic
motivation and SDL readiness.
Aim: This study investigated the connection between academic motivation and SDL
readiness and the three academic motivation domains' predictive features.
Methods: This cross‐sectional study used convenience sampling to recruit 1187
nursing students from four nursing colleges in three countries. We utilized the
Academic Motivation Scale College Version and Self‐directed Learning Readiness
Scale for Nurse Education to collect data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were
employed to analyze the data.
Results: Extrinsic motivation received the highest mean. Most nursing students
exhibited SDL readiness, whereas “desire for learning” was rated the highest
dimension of SDL readiness. We found significant differences in nursing students'
intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and amotivation between the three countries.
Finally, country, gender, and intrinsic motivation were significant predictors of the
nursing students' SDL readiness.
Conclusion: Among Filipino, Saudi, and Thai nursing students, their SDL readiness is
influenced by the intrinsic motivation domain. Therefore, nursing students with
higher levels of intrinsic motivation are proactive learners for SDL.