Development of motivational strategies for nursing students at Zagazig University in Egypt

Abstract

Background: Motivation has always been a central issue in education and has even been referred to as the most complex and challenging issue facing teachers today. The aim of the study was to develop motivational strategies for nursing students at Zagazig University.

Methods: The researchers used the descriptive methodological design. Two types of samples were used: A stratified proportionate sample (323) and Jury committee (10). Questionnaire sheets were used to collect data for the present study (Motivational strategies assessment questionnaires and opinionnaire sheet).

Results: The top strategies that were reported by study subjects as the least frequently used by their staff were: creating a pleasant classroom, promoting group cohesiveness and group norms, making the learning tasks stimulating, recognizing students’ efforts and exhibiting proper teaching behavior (98.1, 97.8, 97.5, 97.5 and 96.9 respectively). The top strategies perceived by the study sample as most important were: exhibiting proper teaching behavior, presenting tasks properly and promoting learner autonomy (82.7%, 79.3% and 78.0% respectively) while creating a pleasant classroom and recognizing students’ efforts are  the least important (66.3%, 68.7% respectively).

Conclusions: There was not a statistically significant difference between the educators use of motivational strategies and the importance of those strategies, there was not a statistically significant difference between male and female students regarding the educators use of motivational strategies, there was a statistically significant difference between male and female students regarding the importance of motivational strategies, as regards to educators use of motivational strategies there were statistically significant differences between first year and second year, third year and fourth year, concerning the importance of motivational strategies there were statistically significant differences between first year and second year, fourth year and first year and finally based on results and literature the required motivational strategies for nursing students at Zagazig University, Egypt were developed.