Change in the Learning Motivations and Attention Orientations of Students in the Pre- and Post-COVID-19 Periods: A Longitudinal Study

Abstract

The purpose of this research is the longitudinal examination of the change in learning motivation (LM) and attention level (AL) of students continuing formal education at secondary school in the pre-pandemic period (PreP), in the pandemic period (PP) during the process of online education, and in the post-pandemic period (PostP) during the new school year of face-to-face education. The data for the research was collected through the Persona 360 software, which is used to support guidance and psychological counseling services in K-12 and follows the development of students. It is known that the students’ psycho-social and educational developments are followed at school by the psychological counselors. The data for the research was collected through the Persona 360 school guidance software used for this purpose from 1,183 students continuing education in 9th and 10th grades at private and state schools in Azerbaijan and Turkey. Within the longitudinal research model, the data was collected three years in a row by the Burdon Attention Test, Learning Motivation Scale, and Temperament-Enneagram 9-Factor Personality Test (MEM-9). The analyses were performed using SPSS 23.0/Windows software pack and ANOVA, two-way ANOVA, and MANOVA tests. Pursuant to the findings obtained, it was found that the students’ learning motivations and attention levels changed negatively in the COVID-19 period for the three different time frames. The findings were discussed in the context of temperament and traumatic stress experiences affecting the students’ learning motivations and attention levels.