Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation for Elementary Teachers: Saudi Arabian Context

This paper describes factors that intrinsically and extrinsically motivate elementary teachers in an all-boys elementary school in Saudi Arabia. Using a qualitative case study research methodology, data were collected via 14 semi-structured individual interviews, two focus group interviews, and a m...

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Main Author: Mahdi Albishi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Canadian Society for Studies in Education 2021-12-01
Series:Canadian Journal for New Scholars in Education
Online Access:https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/cjnse/article/view/71810
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author Mahdi Albishi
author_facet Mahdi Albishi
author_sort Mahdi Albishi
collection DOAJ
description This paper describes factors that intrinsically and extrinsically motivate elementary teachers in an all-boys elementary school in Saudi Arabia. Using a qualitative case study research methodology, data were collected via 14 semi-structured individual interviews, two focus group interviews, and a month of classroom observations of Grades 4, 5, and 6 teachers. Using an inductive approach, the data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The analysis was conducted in five phases: transcription of interviews in Arabic, transcript translation from Arabic to English, data analysis for emerging themes, and triangulation of the data from the interviews, focus groups and classroom observations. The findings revealed Saudi Arabian teachers were motivated intrinsically through (a) their religious beliefs associated with teachers, (b) social connection with colleagues and students, and (c) their pride when witnessing the students’ academic achievement. Extrinsic motivations were (a) awards and rewards, (b) salary and tenure, and (c) proximity to family. Analyzing the findings using self-determination theory (SDT), the intrinsic motivation was based on their psychological needs, and extrinsic motivation was linked to commitment to their profession. The study concludes with a call for the Saudi education system to use educational research to inform policies, such as creating professional development opportunities, which further lends to teacher motivations.
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spelling doaj.art-0dbc81b9c11c470f8245b9076ee7ad822022-12-22T02:29:04ZengCanadian Society for Studies in EducationCanadian Journal for New Scholars in Education1916-92212021-12-01122Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation for Elementary Teachers: Saudi Arabian ContextMahdi Albishi01982 This paper describes factors that intrinsically and extrinsically motivate elementary teachers in an all-boys elementary school in Saudi Arabia. Using a qualitative case study research methodology, data were collected via 14 semi-structured individual interviews, two focus group interviews, and a month of classroom observations of Grades 4, 5, and 6 teachers. Using an inductive approach, the data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The analysis was conducted in five phases: transcription of interviews in Arabic, transcript translation from Arabic to English, data analysis for emerging themes, and triangulation of the data from the interviews, focus groups and classroom observations. The findings revealed Saudi Arabian teachers were motivated intrinsically through (a) their religious beliefs associated with teachers, (b) social connection with colleagues and students, and (c) their pride when witnessing the students’ academic achievement. Extrinsic motivations were (a) awards and rewards, (b) salary and tenure, and (c) proximity to family. Analyzing the findings using self-determination theory (SDT), the intrinsic motivation was based on their psychological needs, and extrinsic motivation was linked to commitment to their profession. The study concludes with a call for the Saudi education system to use educational research to inform policies, such as creating professional development opportunities, which further lends to teacher motivations. https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/cjnse/article/view/71810
spellingShingle Mahdi Albishi
Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation for Elementary Teachers: Saudi Arabian Context
Canadian Journal for New Scholars in Education
title Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation for Elementary Teachers: Saudi Arabian Context
title_full Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation for Elementary Teachers: Saudi Arabian Context
title_fullStr Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation for Elementary Teachers: Saudi Arabian Context
title_full_unstemmed Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation for Elementary Teachers: Saudi Arabian Context
title_short Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation for Elementary Teachers: Saudi Arabian Context
title_sort intrinsic and extrinsic motivation for elementary teachers saudi arabian context
url https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/cjnse/article/view/71810
work_keys_str_mv AT mahdialbishi intrinsicandextrinsicmotivationforelementaryteacherssaudiarabiancontext