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[Peer-Reviewed Research] The Role of Self-Efficacy, Motivation, and Perceived Support of Students’ Basic Psychological Needs in Academic Achievement

Do self‑efficacy, motivation, and perceived support help students become more confident and academically successful?

This peer-reviewed study examines the correlation between students’ basic psychological needs (BPN) and academic success.

Published by: Frontiers in Education journal (2024)

Authors: Dr. Lindsey D. Basileo, Dr. Barbara Otto, Merewyn E. Lyons, Ed.D., Dr. Natalie Vannini and Michael D. Toth.

Methodology: Hierarchical Linear Modeling of survey data collected from 2,359 students enrolled in math and German across 35 middle schools in Germany.

Focus: The role self-efficacy plays in students’ academic motivation and achievement.

Key findings:

  • Self‑efficacy emerged as the strongest predictor of academic achievement.
  • Teacher support for students’ basic psychological needs enhanced autonomous motivation and achievement via self‑efficacy.
  • Controlled motivation had a small but statistically significant negative effect on performance.