Effect of Self-Determination Therapy on Academic Apathy Reduction Among “Top-Up” Students, Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the effect of self-determination therapy (SDT) on decreasing academic apathy among Top-up Students (TUS) at Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Nigeria. A quasi-experimental design was adopted, featuring an experimental group (n=10) and a control group (n=10). The investigation established four hypotheses that were tested at a 0.05 significance level. The pre-experimental observation revealed no significant difference between the experimental and control groups (t. cal. = 0.001, degrees of freedom (Df) = 18, and the significance level = 0.99). However, there was a significant difference between the pre- and post-experimental observations of the experimental group (t. cal. = 3.61, Df = 18, and significance level = 0.02). Additionally, there was no notable difference observed in the pre and post-experimental measurements of the control group (t. cal. = 0.001, Df = 18, and significance level = 0.99). The post-experimental observations revealed a notable difference between the experimental and control groups (t. cal. = 3.34, Df = 18, significant at 0.05). The study concluded that self-determination therapy had a notable impact on academic apathy reduction among TUS at Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Nigeria. It was recommended that students adopt learning methods that foster intrinsic motivation.