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sustainability
Article
Effects of an Autonomy Support Intervention on the
Involvement of Higher Education Students
JoséEduardo Lozano-Jiménez 1, * , Elisa Huéscar 2and Juan Antonio Moreno-Murcia 3
Citation: Lozano-Jiménez, J.E.;
Huéscar, E.; Moreno-Murcia, J.A.
Effects of an Autonomy Support
Intervention on the Involvement of
Higher Education Students.
Sustainability 2021,13, 5006.
https://doi.org/10.3390/
su13095006
Academic Editors: Marc A. Rosen
and Antonio P. Gutierrez de Blume
Received: 1 March 2021
Accepted: 27 April 2021
Published: 29 April 2021
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1Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, Universidad de la Costa, Barranquilla 080001, Colombia
2Department of Health Sciences, Miguel Hernández University, 03202 Elche, Spain; ehuescar@umh.es
3Department of Sport Sciences-Sport Research Centre, Miguel Hernández University, 03202 Elche, Spain;
j.moreno@umh.es
*Correspondence: jlozano5@cuc.edu.co; Tel.: +57-3012943838
Abstract:
Intervention studies based on Self-Determination Theory (SDT) in educational contexts
prove the importance of the teacher’s motivating interpersonal style, promoting positive results
in students’ motivation. However, college practices and processes have new challenges. This
study examines the repercussions of an intervention program with autonomy support on students’
involvement. The sample was randomly divided into two groups, an intervention group composed
of 12 teachers, aged between 25 and 56 years (M = 35.38; SD = 7.71) and 113 students, aged between
18 and 28 years (M = 20.53; SD = 2.42); and a control group consisting of 12 teachers, aged between 25
and 44 years (M = 35.11; SD = 5.79), 107 students, aged between 18 and 39 years (M = 21; SD = 3.68).
Quantitative and qualitative data were collected on the motivating interpersonal style, satisfaction of
basic psychological needs, academic motivation and student involvement. The results demonstrate
in general the effectiveness of the intervention on the perception of autonomy support to improve
student involvement; this relationship is mediated by the improvement of psychological needs
and academic motivation. The results are discussed around the recommendation of motivational
strategies that the higher education teacher should implement to promote students’ involvement.
Keywords:
self-determined motivation; basic psychological needs; interpersonal style; university students
1. Introduction
Globally, most countries are actively advancing in response to the transformational
demand that the higher education context has been facing for the last two decades
[1,2]
,
with the goal of improving the quality of academic processes and achieving high-quality
accreditation [
3
]. Therefore, the transformation of higher education institutions (HEIs) is
recognized as the epicenter of innovation, technology and human capital, which have been
expressed in the transmission of applied knowledge within the framework of interaction
processes with the external sector [
4
], which facing the challenges of the global economic
context, requires both academic excellence and the development of positive psychological
capacities and the search for competitive advantages [
5
]. In this process, dropout and
student academic performance, as basic conditions for quality [
6
], are two key aspects to
consider in the approach to understanding the personal and social variables involved in
the motivational processes that determine the student’s involvement. In this scenario, the
Self-Determination Theory (SDT, [
7
]) is an inescapable frame of reference [
8
]. The SDT
points out that a teacher’s motivating interpersonal style practices oriented at promoting
intrinsic motivation should focus on satisfying the basic psychological needs of autonomy,
competence and relationships with others [
9
], which call for results, such as academic
involvement of students [
10
–
12
] and their motivation to learn, regularly attend classes and
participate in academic activities [
13
]. Therefore, the need arises from universities and
teachers themselves to find useful tools to provoke positive changes in the students’ atti-
tudes towards their academic training. Based on the evidence that shows the benefits they
Sustainability 2021,13, 5006. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13095006 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability
Sustainability 2021,13, 5006 2 of 18
have on motivation and academic involvement, and ultimately the quality and academic
success, the implementation of teacher’s motivating interpersonal style focused on the
mobilization of the student’s internal resources is significant [14].
1.1. Importance of the Teacher’s Motivating Interpersonal Style
The SDT’s purpose is to understand the volitional nature of behavior through the
influences of context triggers, as well as the result of the perceptions that the person makes
about that influence [
15
]. Thus, it suggests that there are three basic psychological needs
related to motivation: autonomy, which involves volitional aspects and the organization
of behavior based on activities consistent with the integrated sense of self, in which
individuals feel they can choose and have some control over the consequences; competence,
which refers to the individual’s perception of feeling capable and effective when performing
her tasks; and the relationship with others, which refers to the need for people to get
involved with others in a meaningful way and feel part of a group or a collective in general
through the establishment of links [
7
]. According to the SDT, the teacher’s motivating
interpersonal style is understood as the form of interpersonal behavior that the teacher
manifests during interaction with his students [
16
]. The motivational style can have a
decisive influence on the results that students have in class. The motivational style is
composed of a series of interpersonal relational skills, ranging from a controlling range to a
range of autonomy support. Regarding teachers who promote autonomy support, this style
is made up of the following aspects: 1. Provision of choice, 2. Structure and 3. Empathy in
the perspective of positive affect in the relationship with others. However, the controlling
style is associated with the teacher imposing his own rules on the students and using threats
or pressure as frequent behavior with his students. The teacher’s motivating interpersonal
style can influence students’ motivation, ranging from one that is more supportive or
one that is more frustrating for their basic psychological needs. When these are satisfied,
students report more motivation and involvement [
17
,
18
] and are more likely to deeply
process the learning material, producing better performance [
19
], greater well-being [
20
],
higher educational aspirations, persistence in educational pathways and lower levels of
academic dropout [
21
]. That is, when teachers support the preferences of students in the
pursuit of their personal interests and goals, they become more and better engaged in their
learning process [22].
On the contrary, a controlling style, based on pressure and threats, can lead to action
motivated solely by the fear provoked by punishment [
23
], which is associated with lack of
involvement [19], loss of initiative and less learning [7].
This way, teachers become one of the main responsible for promoting satisfactory
experiences in the classroom, as their work is decisive for the motivation of students [24].
Recent studies, such as those by Behzadniaac, Adachic, Deci, and Mohammadzadeha [
25
],
Goldman, Goodboy, and Weber [
26
], Jeno, Danielsen, and Raaheim [
27
], and Yu & Levesque-
Bristol [
28
], coincide in pointing out the importance of self-determined motivation as a key
element for academic performance and learning. Previous research, based on the SDT, such
as those referenced, has found that autonomy support is associated with positive results such
as well-being and autonomous motivation. In particular, it has shown that teachers who use
an autonomy support style through the promotion of psychological needs achieve greater
engagement in their students. However, the controlling style, characterized in that the teacher
imposes their own way of thinking, feeling and acting, has been associated with negative
student performance expressed in poor academic performance. Conversely, the autonomy
support style takes into account the perspective of the students, their preferences and interests.
In the controlling style, even the language itself is characterized by imposing expressions,
such as “got to,” “must” or “have to,” lacking sense and argument that supports the desired
behaviors. Correlational studies have seen the importance of addressing autonomy support.
Additionally, in observational studies [
29
], autonomy support has been evaluated in terms
of rank typology through frequency scores, with qualitative scores taken from extracts of
classes recorded on video [
30
,
31
]. However, qualitatively based observational studies are
Sustainability 2021,13, 5006 3 of 18
not common. Based on this analysis, it can be considered that the success or failure in the
academic experience of the students is subject to the teacher’s motivating interpersonal style
in the processes in higher education, which will highlight the self-determined motivation of
the students and their academic involvement [22].
1.2. Teacher’s Motivating Interpersonal Style and Student Involvement
According to the SDT, involvement is a reflection of the positive development of
an individual and is a key element for retention, persistence [
32
,
33
] and academic suc-
cess [
15
]. In this sense, the teacher ’s motivating interpersonal style of autonomy support,
by satisfying the basic psychological needs of students, contributes to improving academic
involvement, defined as the level of effort that students dedicate to their learning, and
that brings positive consequences, such as performance and well-being. It also states that
involvement is a state influenced by contextual factors [
34
]. This way, autonomy support
practices are associated with greater academic involvement [
10
], as they have a significant
positive impact on the regulation of autonomous learning. Perceiving autonomy seems
to be an important predictor of academic involvement [
35
], although structure, related to
the sense of competence, is also another key element for it. However, while autonomy
refers to the degree of freedom that teachers allow their students to self-determine in the
development of classes, structure refers to the clarity and quantity of information provided
to students regarding how to achieve the objectives proposed in the classroom [14,34].
Recently, Xu, Chen, and Chen [
36
] analyzed various studies and proposed that in-
volvement can be behavioral, cognitive or emotional and that in any case, this is a key
factor for academic success, predicted by the satisfaction of basic psychological needs
through the provision autonomy support and structure in the classroom.
1.3. The Present Study
Aware of the importance of the role of the teacher in the academic success of stu-
dents in higher education [
37
] and its impact on the academic involvement assumed by
students [
38
], the present study set out to examine the influence of an intervention based
on the teacher’s motivating interpersonal style of autonomy support on the involvement of
the student through the motivational process suggested by the SDT regarding the analysis
of the role of psychological needs and the student’s academic motivation. The study tested
three hypotheses. First, we proposed: (1) Students in the intervention group with auton-
omy support, compared with students in the control group, would report a longitudinal
improvement in the satisfaction of their academic basic psychological needs. Hypothesis
(2) was proposed that the students in the intervention group, in comparison with those
in the control group, would report an improvement in autonomous motivation. Finally,
hypothesis (3): The students in the intervention group, compared to the students in the
control group, would report a longitudinal improvement in their academic involvement
after the intervention.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Participants
The sample was made up of 220 Colombian university students (144 girls and 76 boys)
of different levels of undergraduate academic programs in engineering, psychology, bache-
lor of education, law, social communication and architecture, at the Universidad de la Costa
de Barranquilla, a private higher education institution, (37 in 3rd level; 22 in 4th level; 62 in
5th level; 29 in 6th level; 38 in 7th level; 13 in 8th level; 18 in 9th level). Their ages ranged
between 18 and 39 years (M = 20.76; SD = 3.10). The participants were intentionally divided
into an intervention group (n= 113), consisting of 59 men and 54 women, and a control
group (n= 107), with 17 men and 90 women. Twenty-four university professors responsible
for the study students (11 men and 13 women) of different levels and undergraduate
academic programs from the same university, aged between 25 and 56 years (M = 34.83;
SD = 7.55) also participated. The professors were intentionally divided into an intervention
Sustainability 2021,13, 5006 4 of 18
group, which would be trained to teach their classes with a style of autonomy support
(n= 12), made up of 5 men and 7 women, and a control group, which would use the model
traditional class (n= 12), made up of 6 men and 6 women. To make up the intervention
group, those professors who presented themselves to an open invitation to be part of a
training course offered by the university were selected. The control group was made up of
teachers who were invited to be part of an investigative process as a control group. The
students participating in the study corresponded to those who had subjects enrolled in
the semester in the courses of the teachers of both groups. In parallel, qualitative data
were also collected and analyzed to complement and go into detail about the study of
the variables contemplated in this research. After being informed of the objectives of the
research, that the process would imply the completion of surveys at various times, and
the recording of the classes on video, all the participants gave their consent. The selected
sample ensured that the participants were from various semesters and academic programs.
2.2. Measurements
Autonomy support. To measure the motivating interpersonal style of autonomy sup-
port that the Higher Education student perceives from his teacher, the Scale of Autonomy
Support by Moreno-Murcia et al. [
39
] was used. It consists of 12 items (e.g., “Provide
explanations that help us understand the personal utility of carrying out this activity”),
and the scale begins with an introductory heading such as: “My teacher in class
. . .
”. This
is valued on a Likert scale from 1 (Totally disagree) to 5 (Totally agree). Internal consistency
for take one was 0.92, and for take two, it was 0.93. This scale has shown reliability rates
higher than 0.70 in previous works.
Controller style. To measure the controlling interpersonal style that the Higher Ed-
ucation student perceives from their teacher, the Controlling Style Measurement Scale
by Moreno-Murcia et al. was used. [
40
]. It consists of 12 items (e.g., “It gives very few
guidelines and no alternatives on how to carry out the tasks it presents”), and the scale
begins with an introductory heading such as: “My teacher in class
. . .
”. This is valued on
a Likert scale from 1 (Totally disagree) to 5 (Totally agree). Internal consistency for take one
was 0.91, and for take two, it was 0.94. This scale has shown reliability rates higher than
0.70 in previous works.
Academic motivation. To measure student motivation, the version translated and
validated into Spanish by Núñez et al. [
41
] of the Échelle de Motivation en Éducation
(EME) (Vallerand et al., 1989) was used. It is preceded by the phrase “In this subject,”
and the responses are collected on a Likert-type scale that ranges from 1 (Totally disagree)
to 5 (Totally agree). The internal consistency for the dimensions in take one: intrinsic
motivation to knowledge (MIC) was 0.83; intrinsic motivation to achieve (MIL) was 0.78;
intrinsic motivation to experience stimulation (MIEE) was 0.70; identified extrinsic motiva-
tion (MEI) was 0.72; introjected extrinsic motivation (MEIN) was 0.76; external regulation
extrinsic motivation (MERE) was 0.77; demotivation (DESMOT) was 0.88. The internal
consistency for the dimensions in take two: intrinsic motivation to knowledge (MIC) was
0.86; intrinsic motivation to achieve (MIL) was 0.87; intrinsic motivation to experience
stimulation (MIEE) was 0.72 identified extrinsic motivation (MEI) was 0.87; introjected
extrinsic motivation (MEIN) was 0.72; external regulation extrinsic motivation (MERE) was
0.69; demotivation (DESMOT) was 0.90. This scale has shown reliability rates higher than
0.70 in previous works.
Basic psychological needs. The Spanish version of the Échelle de Satisfaction des
Besoins Psychologiques was used in the educational context [
42
] by Gillet et al. (2018).
The scale was preceded by the statement “In my class
. . .
” and composed of 15 items
referring to academic competence (e.g., “I have the feeling of doing things well”), academic
autonomy (e.g., “I generally feel free to express my opinions”), and to the academic
relationship with others (e.g., “I feel good with the people with whom I interact”). The
answers were established on a Likert-type scale that ranged from 1 (Does not correspond at
all) and 7 (It corresponds totally). The internal consistency for the dimensions in taking one
Sustainability 2021,13, 5006 5 of 18
for autonomy was 0.75, for competence was 0.84, and for the relationship with the others,
it was 0.82. On the other hand, the internal consistency for the dimensions in take two for
autonomy was 0.77, for competence was 0.89, and for the relationship with the others, it
was 0.90. This scale has shown reliability rates higher than 0.70 in previous works.
Implication. To assess the implication, the scale of Núñez and León [
43
] was used. It
is made up of 12 items, which are scored on a Likert scale from 1 (Totally disagree) to 7
(Totally agree). Internal consistency for take one was 0.91, and for take two, it was 0.94.
This scale has shown reliability rates higher than 0.70 in previous works.
Verification of the intervention. To assess the effectiveness of the intervention treat-
ment, videotaped lectures were observed and analyzed by two expert evaluators in in-
terventions with autonomy support. To do this, the Barrachina, Huéscar, and Moreno-
Murcia [
44
] scale of observation of behaviors in support of autonomy was used, consisting
of 4 categories and 25 subcategories, organized into 35 questions with a yes or no answer.
The first and second categories had 5 subcategories and 5 questions each. The third cat-
egory had 8 subcategories and 13 questions. The fourth category had 7 subcategories
and 12 questions. The results obtained by rater 1 were used in the data analysis, while
those from rater 2 were used to estimate inter-rater reliability. The internal consistency
of the dimensions was 0.82, 0.91, 0.90 and 0.92, respectively, and the inter-rater reliability
was 0.84.
Fidelity of the intervention. To assess the fidelity of the intervention, semi-structured
interviews were carried out with only the teachers of the intervention group, as some
studies have already carried out in advance [
19
,
45
]. The interview dealt with topics related
to teacher satisfaction with the autonomy support instruction. A series of questions was
carried out through focus groups: How would you define the role you have within the
learning process of the students, your role? Did you have the opportunity to perceive that
students expressed their perception regarding their teacher’s motivating interpersonal
style practices in the classroom? What did losing control and allowing the student to have
it and be more self-determined mean to you? How did you experience this process? How
do you think you are perceived by your students? How has it been the experience of feeling
capable and facilitating students to also perceive themselves as competent and capable?
In that process of perceiving yourself as capable of appropriating the tools, did you have
any obstacles? How did they deal with them? How or in what way did they show that the
students were transforming their way of being and being in class? How did you feel about
the way of expressing yourself in the classes, going from being directive to more open?
Speaking of motivation, what can we say about what motivates us in our work as teachers,
as facilitators, as companions? Is the task of being a teacher worth it?
2.3. Process
This research was approved by the Academic Council and the Board of Directors of
the main researcher’s university within the framework of the CONV-14-2019 Call and was
approved with the code INV.140-01-007-14 at the Universidad de la Costa (Colombia).
The procedural schedule for the implementation of the intervention is shown in
Figure 1. The academic year in Colombia consists of 2 semesters per year (16 weeks in each
semester, approximately 4 months). The present study was carried out during the second
semester of the academic year through quantitative and qualitative measurements and
analysis. At time 1 (week 4 of the 2nd semester), students completed the questionnaire
package. Their responses were ensured confidential and used for research purposes only.
When the first data collection was completed, the teachers in the intervention group
conducted training based on the trained autonomy support strategies, as shown in Figure 2,
while the teachers in the control group taught their classes using their existing instructional
objectives (“Teach as usual”). The intervention was carried out with twelve teachers and
their groups of students in different subjects, between March and May 2019, in a total
of one hundred and forty-four classes of 120 min, once a week, distributed over twelve
weeks. At time 2 (week 14 of the semester), students completed the study questionnaire
Sustainability 2021,13, 5006 6 of 18
a second time. At the end of the semester, individual semi-structured interviews were
carried out with the teaching staff and the students of the intervention group. The content
of the interviews was based on the results of the literature review that suggested key areas
in supporting autonomy.
Figure 1.
Procedural timeline for intervention with autonomy support and moments of data collection (T1 = Time 1;
T2 = Time 2).
Figure 2. Training process in the Intervention Program with Autonomy Support.
They sought a detailed exploration of individual experiences and the meanings that
these had for them [46].
To evaluate and control the effectiveness of the intervention, three classes of each
teacher were filmed, between March and June, one before starting the intervention, another
at the end of the training and a third at the end of the academic period. Two evaluators
observed 10/15 min of a class period of each teacher in three moments (beginning, middle
and end) of the semester.
Before implementing the study, the teachers of the intervention group voluntarily
participated in a training workshop on autonomy support. In this workshop, participants
were taught the concepts of motivation advocated in the SDT [
47
] and instructional behav-
iors to facilitate higher levels of autonomy support and reduce controlling style behaviors
during classes [
48
–
50
]. Teachers completed the workshop, and measurements were made
in a pilot study of four classes with students that had nothing to do with the present study.
The purpose of the pilot study was to help teachers and ensure the correct application of
each approach (autonomy support and control), and thus, achieve intra-observer reliability
that was higher than 90%.
Sustainability 2021,13, 5006 7 of 18
Descriptive analyses were executed to evaluate the teacher’s interactions during
classes, using the scale of measurement for the interpersonal style of Barrachina et al. [
44
].
According to some studies [
51
], which took similar measures, 80% or more of the interac-
tions recorded using the teacher’s interpersonal style should be directed to the autonomy
of the intervention group. On the other hand, in the control group, 80% of the interactions
must be characterized by the control style. In the present study, both groups obtained
indices within those reported in the literature, as shown in Table 1.
Table 1. Frequency and percentage of interpersonal styles by group.
Moment 1 Moment 2 Moment 3
Interv. group Control Group Interv. group Control Group Interv. group Control Group
Freq. % Freq. % Freq. % Freq. % Freq. % Freq. %
Autonomy suport 240 80% 48 16% 245 81% 45 15% 255 85% 36 12%
Controller style 60 20% 225 75% 55 19% 230 77% 45 15% 237 79%
Neutral style 0 0% 27 9% 0 0% 25 8% 0 0% 27 9%
Total 300 100% 300 100% 300 100% 300 100% 300 100% 300 100%
To avoid discrepancies between the study hypotheses and the practical reality, the
students’ perception of the interpersonal style used by the teacher (autonomy or control)
was also measured. The objective was to obtain the students’ perspective on the effects of
the intervention. After performing the covariance tests, the effect of the intervention on
perceived autonomy support was measured using the Autonomy Support Scale (ASS) and
the Control Style Scale (CSS) (Figures 3and 4). After the intervention, it was found that
in the intervention group there were differences in autonomy support (M T1 = 4.19 and
M T2 = 4.49; p< 0.001; F(1,112) = 22.65; d= 0.16), and in the controlling style (M T1 = 2.84
and M T2 = 1.97; p< 0.001, F(1,112) = 44.08; d= 0.28), with an increase in autonomy support
and a decrease in the controlling style. In the control group, differences were observed in
autonomy support (M T1 = 4.48 and M T2 = 3.61; p< 0.001; F(1,106) = 85.63; d= 0.45), and
in the controlling style (M T1 = 2.29 and M T2 = 2.04; p< 0.01; F(1,106) = 6.11; d= 0.05),
decreasing the two measures after the intervention.
Figure 3.
Students’ perception of the teacher’s motivating interpersonal style of autonomy support.
Sustainability 2021,13, 5006 8 of 18
Figure 4. Students’ perception of the teacher’s controlling style.
2.4. Statistical Analysis
To analyze whether there were any differences between the control group and the
experimental group in the study’s target variables before the intervention, a Levene test
was performed with the pretest variables of the groups. To answer the research questions,
a repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed.
Attending to Cohen, 1988, the effect size was calculated using his cut-off values for
small 0–0.2, medium 0.2–0.5 or large 0.5–0.8. The internal consistency of each factor was
analyzed using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. The data were analyzed using the SPSS
25.0 statistics program. Interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) was also used [
52
].
A content analysis [
53
,
54
] of the two sets of interview transcripts was used. Once the
interviews were transcribed, they were read in-depth, and the information was categorized,
following a constant process of comparison and inductive logic reasoning, as suggested in
various research qualitative methodology manuals [
55
–
57
]. Thus, the analysis consisted of
classifying all the information collected in the interviews into a system of categories and
subcategories that simplified, clarified and related the information, giving meaning to the
data. The results were analyzed according to the centers of interest and categories.
3. Results
The analysis of the data is presented below from two perspectives. On the one hand,
in a quantitative way and on the other, in a qualitative way.
3.1. Quantitative Analysis
First of all, to verify the homogeneity of the two groups before the intervention, an
analysis of variance was carried out with one factor, considering as dependent variables (au-
tonomy support, controlling style, basic psychological needs, motivation and involvement)
and as fixed factor (the group) finding differences (Wilks Lambda = 0.90, F(16,203) = 5.35,
p< 0.01, d= 0.29), in the controller style variables (F(1112) = 26.19, p< 0. 01, d= 0.10)
and controlling motivation (F(1112) = 7.31, p< 0.01, d= 0.03), in favor of the interven-
tion group; and in the variables autonomy support (F(1106) = 17.93, p< 0.01, d= 0.07),
competence (F(1106) = 11.52, p< 0.01, d= 0.05), relationship with others (F(1106) = 8.54,
p< 0.01, d= 0.03), autonomous motivation (F(1106) = 39.13, p< 0.01, d= 0.15), controlling
motivation (F(1106) = 23.33, p< 0.01, d= 0.09) and implication (F(1106) = 23.18, p< 0.01,
d= 0.09), in favor of the control group.
To verify the effect of the pre and post intervention, both in the control group and in
the intervention group, the repeated measures analysis was performed, considering the
initial differences that were obtained in all measures. This statistical test allows to control
these differences and observe the possible effect that the intervention had, as reflected in
the results. When verifying the effect of the program through the analysis of repeated
Sustainability 2021,13, 5006 9 of 18
measures (Table 2), significant differences (p< 0.01) were obtained in the intervention
group, probably due to the lack of randomization in the allocation of units [
58
]. The
values in the variables autonomy, relationship with others, autonomous motivation and
involvement improved, and they decreased in controlling motivation. Conversely, in the
control group, significant differences were found (p< 0.01) in the variables autonomy,
autonomous motivation, controlling motivation and involvement, decreasing the values
in T2.
Table 2. Analysis of repeated measures.
Intervention Group
(n= 113)
Control Group
(n= 107)
M DT M DT
Autonomy Pre 3.84 0.76 3.95 0.72
Post 4.28 ** 0.63 3.41 ** 0.85
Competence Pre 4.30 0.59 4.55 0.46
Post 4.60 ** 0.57 4.48 0.50
Relationship with others Pre 4.05 0.67 4.32 0.70
Post 4.49 ** 0.64 4.36 0.67
Autonomous motivation Pre 5.42 0.77 6.32 0.63
Post 5.86 ** 0.74 5.48 ** 0.73
Controlling motivation Pre 4.51 0.83 4.22 0.77
Post 3.68 ** 108 3.72 ** 0.68
Involvement Pre 5.50 1.00 6.09 0.78
Post 5.92 ** 0.88 5.44 ** 0.80
Note: ** p < 0.01.
3.2. Qualitative Analysis
In order to complement the measures obtained through quantitative information, a
focus group was conducted with a sample of students who participated in the process,
both from the control group and the intervention group. The purpose of the meeting was
explained to them, and once they agreed, they were asked to sign the informed consent.
They were randomly selected, but their time availability was taken into account. The
dynamics took place for about 45 min, with the facilitation of the principal investigator.
Open questions were posed, aiming at delving into central aspects of the research such as
the student’s perception of their teachers in relation to their ways of relating and conducting
the class, emphasizing the opportunity they have or not to make decisions, make proposals,
disagree, participate, interact during class, develop tasks, perceive themselves competent
and satisfied.
In the same sense, a focus group was conducted with a sample of the teachers, ran-
domly selected, who participated in the process. The dynamics were also facilitated by
the principal investigator. Although open questions were designed, there was also an
opportunity to generate other questions derived from the development of the activity. Both
of them were oriented to deepen into central aspects of the investigation.
For the interpretation and analysis of the results derived from the qualitative mea-
surement instruments, processes similar to those of other studies [
59
,
60
] were carried out,
following the methodological indications of Hsieh and Shannon [
61
]. In the analysis of the
videos, in particular, it was proposed to distinguish the different behaviors and statements
of the teachers according to how they approximate a teacher’s motivating interpersonal
style of control, autonomy support or neutral [62].
3.2.1. Student Interviews
After advancing the focus group with the students and analyzing the information,
everything was structured into three categories and five large blocks or subcategories, as
Sustainability 2021,13, 5006 10 of 18
shown in Table 3. The three categories correspond to teachers, the second to goals and
the latter for purposes. As for the subcategories, they are condensed in a first block on
the “style of autonomy support” by the teacher; a second block on “high self-determined
motivation;” a third on “competence;” a fourth on the “relationship with others;” a fifth
and last block on “well-being.”
Table 3. Category and Subcategory System after Student Group Data Analysis (Posttest).
Categories Subcategories Codes
Teacher Autonomy support style
Controller
Autonomy support
Both styles
Goals
Autonomy I can make decisions during classes
I can make proposals during classes
Competence
I have received guidance from the teacher
I have been able to understand the issues
Homework is affordable
Relationship with others When I do work with my colleagues I learn more
High self-determination motivation Maintaining a high involvement
Effects Psychological well-being
I feel good in my classes and I feel like I am learning
I like my career and I want to move on
Autonomy support style. It becomes palpable that the professor’s respectful, close
and kind attitude with his students is considered relevant, as well as his openness and
trust since it facilitates not only the recognition of the professor as an expert but also the
assessment of his qualities as a person. On the other hand, it facilitates the learning process
because it allows a greater understanding on the part of the students, since, in addition
to being structured within the framework of a clear and pleasant language, it allows the
formulation of questions and answer alternatives. An example of a statement is: “I believe
that one takes more confidence with her, it is easier to ask her, we continue to see her as a
person who has knowledge and who knows” (E2).
Autonomy. The possibility of choosing between alternatives, proposing and being able
to make decisions was key for the students, as it promoted participation, involvement and
interest in the development of the subjects. Some expressions collect this experience and
give proof of it: “The teacher gives us several solution options, several alternatives” (E2).
Competence. Perceiving themselves as capable and competent represented for the
students a fundamental element in their training process, which, added to a close rela-
tionship with the teacher and the opportunity to decide, led them to commit even more
to their process. In the following expression, the scope of this aspect is evidenced in the
words of the students: “(the teacher) first explains the importance and then explains the
process how it is done, and then leaves us free development” (E2). In contrast, the control
group students recognize the complexity of the subjects and the limitations they have to
assimilate them: “it really is difficult. There are ugly subjects and the teacher does not help,
he does not present them easier and I feel bad and worse if I lose the exam, because I see
that I am not learning” (E2GC).
Relationship with others. Collaborative learning, meeting with peers and the estab-
lishment of open, dynamic, reciprocal and respectful relationships promote an appropriate
environment for learning and are considered a very important factor by the students in
the classroom. The following are some of the expressions that reflect this feeling in the
students: “I think the relationship with my classmates is important. I feel that with them I
can talk about my things and learn more” (E1).
High self-determined motivation. It is observed that although the grades are impor-
tant, they are not more important than the fact of learning, to the point that there can
Sustainability 2021,13, 5006 11 of 18
be satisfaction, even when they are not very good or even insufficient. This motivation
allowed the students to attend classes with greater regularity and a willingness to learn
and grow as professionals in training and as individuals. Here are some expressions that
reflect this dynamic: “I never missed that class, I always kept motivated because I am really
learning” (E3 Wellness.); or “I am mainly motivated by the desire to grow personally and
professionally” (E4).
For the student, feeling good, full and finding personal well-being is presented as
a key within their entire educational journey. The teacher is recognized as an important
“partner” on this path, but he is also the student as an active subject and agent of the
process. This experience of well-being is reflected in expressions such as “We are motivated
to continue, make us want to do it again” (E1); “And you also say I got it, because one
also needs personal satisfaction and not to say I did it wrong again” (E2); “I am satisfied
with my life, we always want more because we are a little ambitious” (E4). Meanwhile,
the control group students agree that they feel good when they win the subject and simply
pass the level.
3.2.2. Teachers Interview
After the intervention process, the focus group was carried out with a sample of
teachers. Once this was concluded, the information was analyzed. It was structured into
three categories and five large blocks or subcategories, as shown in Table 4. The three
categories correspond to teachers, the second to goals, and the last to effects. As for the
subcategories, they are condensed into a first block on paper in the classroom focused on
autonomy support, a second block on motivation, a third on competence, a fourth on the
relationship with others and a fifth on satisfaction.
Table 4.
System of Categories and Subcategories after the Data Analysis of the Group of Teach-
ers (Posttest).
Categories Subcategories Codes
Teacher Role in the classroom centered on
Supporting Autonomy
Controller
Autonomy support
Both styles
Goals
Autonomy Decision-making during classes
Proposals during classes
Competence
Orientations to students
Facilitation of understanding of topics
Approach affordable tasks
Relationship with others Facilitation of teamwork for greater understanding
Motivation Promote high engagement
Effects Satisfaction
Promote well-being in classes for greater learning
Promote appropriation by career and permanence
Role in the classroom focused on autonomy support. Teachers recognize that they
are facilitators of the student’s learning processes through the practice of the motivating
interpersonal style of autonomy support. They live an experience between guiding and
letting them go: “I believe that this exercise that we did during this semester for me was to
confirm the role of facilitator especially at this educational level.”
Autonomy. Within the framework of the classroom process, in addition to recognizing
themselves as facilitators, teachers consequently recognize students as agents responsible
for their learning. They are given the possibility to choose, ask, dispute and propose: “the
student is responsible for their learning, for me the student has to assume to assume, I feel
that this time I had students who, even though their grades were not 5, they appreciated
the possibility of stimulating decision-making, the possibility of thanking us for indicating
Sustainability 2021,13, 5006 12 of 18
that we are responsible for this” (P1). In contrast, in the focus group that went ahead with
the teachers of the control group, different views were observed regarding the emerging
subcategories in the intervention group. Conceptions focused more on control and reflected
in expressions such as “students have to conform to what is established, to the rules of the
game so that the class functions” (P1GC) denote this.
Competence. In this facilitation process, teachers recognize that they must accompany
students along a path that must become more complex in such a way that they feel
progressively competent and capable of moving forward. For this reason, it is not enough
to enable a close relationship or a scenario of autonomy, but also of competition: “the fact
that the student is autonomous, that the student decides that is his responsibility, is also
accompanying him to the side, neither behind nor forward, if not to the side” (P1).
Relationship with others. In this process, the teachers also realized that it is not
enough for them to facilitate, guide and promote; it is not even enough that students take
ownership. They realized that the relationship between students, as peers and classmates,
is essential to achieve learning. The teachers are aware of this, and they also insist on
proposing didactics and pedagogies that stimulate this relationship: “There was a student
who did not know how to interpolate so I stayed with him and taught him and then he was
the one who explained to the classmates who did not understand” (P6). Even as a result
of this relationship with others, a transformation occurred to the point that the student
“is capable of leading his classmates” (P1). On the other side, although the teachers of the
control group established harmonious relations with their students, there is a distance that
does not make them warm and close: “I am close to the students, but they there and I
here” (P2GC).
Motivation. It was a central component in the process, since as far as the student was
concerned, it was a consequence of achieving competence, autonomy and relationships
with others, starting from the teacher’s motivating interpersonal style of autonomy support,
and regarding the teacher, an engine for the development of their role in the classroom.
Both elements are combined and enriched as expressed by the teachers “my motivation is
to see the transformation of the student, it satisfies me and in fact that is why I am here”
(P5); “The growth of my students motivates me” (P7).
Satisfaction. Throughout the experiential journey, the teacher finally expresses a
vocational theme. He is not only a teacher for a job, for an income. It is a matter of
will, desire and a life project that seeks personal fulfillment and also to the students, and
translates into satisfaction and well-being, which was also experienced by the students.
This is how the teachers express it: “I feel that I enjoyed the process, because it was like
getting out of neutral and doing something different” (P5); “We enjoyed it and the students
too” (P7). “I think it is important to leave traces (
. . .
) and it is satisfactory to be able to
help him a little in the life of that student” (P6): “For me it was satisfactory, I also felt that I
grew as a teacher that my students were motivated” (P3).
3.2.3. Analysis of the Videos
The three dimensions of the teacher’s motivating interpersonal style (control, auton-
omy support and neutral) were analyzed, both in the intervention group and in the control
group, through the review of the class recordings throughout the process, taking as a
guideline what is proposed by Pearlman [
46
], who considers a predominant dimension
one that occurs in 80% of the behaviors observed. As presented in Table 1, in more than
80% of the interactions of the teachers in the intervention group, the teacher’s motivating
interpersonal style of autonomy support predominates. Similarly, in the control group, 80%
of the interactions were characterized by a controlling style. These findings confirm the
suggested hypothesis that the intervention group would obtain a more positive result in
the measures of the variables.
Sustainability 2021,13, 5006 13 of 18
4. Discussion
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of an intervention with auton-
omy support on the involvement of college students, taking the framework of the SDT
as a reference and from a quantitative and qualitative analysis perspective. After the
intervention, the results showed that the Intervention Program with Teacher Autonomy
Support achieved, in general, more adaptive behaviors in university students. In turn, it is
qualitatively supported by the analysis derived from both the focus groups and the videos
taken throughout the intervention.
The intervention had a positive effect because the students who received greater
autonomy support presented a greater satisfaction of basic psychological needs [
45
,
63
].
These results coincide with previous studies and confirm that the use of the teacher’s
motivating interpersonal style of autonomy support favors improvements in student
motivation [19,20].
The social context and relationships have a significant impact on basic psychological
needs and well-being, being able to enhance or affect them [
15
], and are key to the influence
that teachers have on student motivation [
64
]. This way, the more the teachers implement
a motivating interpersonal style of autonomy support during their classes, the greater
the student’s involvement, levels of autonomy, competence, relationship, self-determined
motivation [
65
] and involvement [
22
,
34
,
35
]. As a consequence, the closer and gentle
treatment of the teacher with his students has been key since he has built trust and openness
for meeting and discussion in classroom spaces.
Strategies of educational autonomy support that stimulate the development of self-
determined motivation can lead students to become more engaged in their academic
activities [
38
]. Satisfying the psychological needs of competence, autonomy and relation-
ships with others through the implementation of strategies that promote the use of a style
of autonomy support in the classroom, which for the present study were 25 (Table 5)
and were implemented according to the quasi-experimental study protocol of Moreno-
Murcia et al. [
66
], self-determined motivation was improved in the students, in the same
sense explained by Núñez and León [
43
]. The predictive power of the interpersonal style of
autonomy support over improvement in academic competence was also observed [
67
,
68
].
Table 5. Strategies for the interpersonal style of autonomy support [66].
Context Description Autonomous Strategy
During the class, when the teacher
proposes a teaching–learning situation . . .
Ask the student about their preferences
in relation to a task.
In the development of the class, the
teacher when
set the tasks . . .
Offers the possibility of choice to the student
(groups, materials and spaces).
In the approach of the tasks, on the taking of
student decisions about their
intervention, the teacher . . .
Let the student take the initiative
(gives the initiative).
The teacher, on the possibility of consolidation,
expansion or reinforcement of objectives
pursued with homework . . .
Offers possibilities for experimentation
(individualizes the teaching).
The teacher, when organizing tasks, manifests
expectations towards the group so that . ..
Assigns responsibility by stating its
positive expectations and confidence that
It will come out well.
Regarding the information that
the teacher gives the students
before starting a task . . .
When starting the task, explain and
relates it to
Class objectives.
Sustainability 2021,13, 5006 14 of 18
Table 5. Cont.
Context Description Autonomous Strategy
Before starting the practice,
the teacher, on the possibility
to locate that task within the
class structure . . .
Locate the task within the
class structure
(organization).
The teacher offers arguments
about the social transfer that
has the realization of a
activity . . .
Explain the usefulness of homework.
The teacher, when he needs
to illustrate before starting,
class . . .
He relies on students as positive role models
to demonstrate.
When a task is presented, on the possibility of
guiding on personal improvement with criteria
for the student, the teacher . . .
Does so by offering guidelines and orientations
to regulate personal progress and makes the
criteria for improvement known in advance.
The teacher during the execution of the
activities . . . Adapt directions based on student progress.
When the teacher needs to illustrate the tasks
once they have started . . . Use role models through students.
On whether the teacher participates in the
explanations of the tasks . . .
When necessary, share the demonstrations
with the students.
On the variants that the teacher can offer
during the development of a task . . .
Remember the different variants for the
same task.
During the performance of the tasks, the
teacher . . .
Offers both verbal and non-verbal positive
reinforcement. Encourage students to
persevere.
The teacher, during the development of the
activities, . . .
Offers informative and/or positive feedback
during the execution of tasks
The teacher usually raises the activities in such
a way that . . .
Offers a graduation of the difficulty of the tasks
according to the level of the students.
During the activities, the teacher . . . Proposes flexible groupings according to the
development of the tasks.
During the development of the session, the
teacher . . .
Addresses students with education and on an
individual basis.
When students talk to the teacher, the teacher
. . . Uses empathetic language.
The teacher during the development of the
class . . . He approaches the students to attend to them.
The teacher when interacting in class . . . He is enthusiastic.
The teacher during the development of the
class . . . Gives confidence to the students.
The teacher during the development of the
class . . . Behaves as a positive role model for students.
The need to establish the importance of the basic psychological needs of autonomy,
competence and relationship with others is evidenced in order to create learning envi-
ronments focused on a style of autonomy support that is conducive to improving and
maintaining the involvement of students [
38
,
68
] and, depending on this, its permanence,
persistence and academic success [
32
,
33
]. Therefore, on top of a good relationship with
their peers, the possibility of students to choose and propose impacts on involvement,
adherence to learning processes and satisfaction with life. In addition, when the students
Sustainability 2021,13, 5006 15 of 18
perceive themselves capable in this process, their well-being, performance and motivation
increase overall.
This study makes contributions to pedagogical nature, demonstrating the importance
of implementing strategies to enhance student motivation and their involvement in aca-
demic processes. This way, to allow the choice of content among different options, offer
level options in the tasks, facilitate teamwork and active participation within the framework
of close relationships in class, guide students in the construction of knowledge and search-
ing for answers within a non-controlling language and autonomy support framework
are key strategies to consolidate greater motivation and involvement in students [
45
,
69
].
Likewise, the establishment of a pleasant and empathetic language is a determining compo-
nent that translates into a clearer learning process, with greater understanding and greater
possibilities of horizontal interaction. On the other hand, the results suggest promoting a
much broader and more diverse university teacher training, focused not only on a deep
specialization and experience in an academic and research area but also on the mastery
of effective teaching-learning strategies focused on the teacher’s motivating interpersonal
style of autonomy support [11].
Among the limitations of the study are the need to increase the intervention time and
the inclusion of other variables of analysis such as resilience, self-concept and satisfaction
with the student’s life, verifying the transcontextual effects of the benefits of implementing
a support style to autonomy in class. Another limitation is that it only focuses on academic
involvement as a result of supporting autonomy. Involvement is one of many possible
behavioral outcomes derived from mobilizing the student’s internal resources. Future
works should complement this preliminary data with information provided by other ex-
pected consequences of this style of an emotional, cognitive or behavioral nature. Among
the limitations, it is also found that by not having used an active control group, it will be
necessary to take it into account in future studies, since the differences obtained in the
present work presume that there may be other variables not analyzed that could have mod-
ified the results. Regarding the practical implications, although these results are presented
as preliminary, we think that this research may contribute to a better understanding of
how the educational system can contribute to improving the academic results of students
thanks to teacher training in more adaptive styles. Thus, we suggest, aligned with other
research, that teacher training programs aimed at modeling interpersonal behavior with
their students be promoted. In our study, we have verified how through this monitoring,
the teacher who focuses his work on guaranteeing student decision-making, supervising
the learning process during the execution of tasks and supporting social relationships,
manages to improve motivation towards proposed activities and finally the student decides
to sustain a greater involvement and sustained interest towards them.
Finally, it is considered that sustainable development is only possible when differ-
ent work fronts are integrated, as proposed by the UN in the Sustainable Development
Goals [
70
] and in particular, in objective 4 Quality Education, in which it raises the chal-
lenge of having qualified teachers who accompany students on the path of relevant and
effective learning that allows them to access a decent job or entrepreneurship, which in
turn contributes to sustainable development.
5. Conclusions
This research joins a growing research force that, from the SDT, combines quantitative
techniques with the information provided by qualitative techniques to achieve a better
knowledge of the variables that participate in a quality educational context from teacher
training. This study suggests that in order to achieve greater academic involvement of
students, teachers should first be able to mobilize their academic motivation by promoting
psychological mediators, minimizing the use of controlling behaviors. Therefore, it is nec-
essary to train teachers in structured programs that help them implement these strategies
in their classes to achieve the expected results.
Sustainability 2021,13, 5006 16 of 18
Author Contributions:
Conceptualization, J.E.L.-J., E.H. and J.A.M.-M.; methodology, J.E.L.-J., E.H.
and J.A.M.-M.; validation, J.E.L.-J., E.H. and J.A.M.-M.; formal analysis, J.E.L.-J., E.H. and J.A.M.-
M.; investigation, J.E.L.-J., E.H. and J.A.M.-M.; resources, J.E.L.-J., E.H. and J.A.M.-M.; data cura-
tion, J.E.L.-J., E.H. and J.A.M.-M.; writing—original draft preparation, J.E.L.-J., E.H. and J.A.M.-M.;
writing—review and editing, J.E.L.-J., E.H. and J.A.M.-M.; visualization, J.E.L.-J., E.H. and J.A.M.-M.;
supervision, J.E.L.-J., E.H. and J.A.M.-M.; project administration, J.E.L.-J., E.H. and J.A.M.-M. All
authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Funding: This research received no external funding.
Institutional Review Board Statement:
The study was conducted according to the guidelines of the
Declaration of Helsinki, and approved by the Institutional Review Board (Academic Council and the
Board of Directors) of the main researcher’s university within the framework of the CONV-14-2019
Call and was approved with the code INV.140-01-007-14 at the Universidad de la Costa (Colombia).
Informed Consent Statement:
Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study.
Data Availability Statement:
Data regarding the research can be found in https://figshare.com/
articles/dataset/Dates_intervention_Colombia/14139578 (accessed on 2 March 2021).
Acknowledgments:
The Universidad de la Costa (Colombia) allowed the implementation of this
project and facilitated the participation of its professors and students, as well as its physical, adminis-
trative and technological support for its development.
Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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