Investigating the Relationship between Students’ Motivation and Learning Strategies: A Study of Ph.D. Students’ Perceptions at the Faculty of Languages, University of Benghazi

Abstract

Motivation is an important factor for success in learning because it influences the extent and level of effort made in the learning process. Likewise, effective learning strategies can play a central role in improving students’ achievement. Therefore, investigating students’ motivation and learning strategies within a specific course or program can enhance the teaching and learning processes. Accordingly, this was an exploratory study aimed at assessing students’ motivational orientations and learning strategies and investigating the relationship between them. The research participants consisted of 16 Ph.D. students from the Applied Linguistics Department at the University of Benghazi. The data for the study were collected using the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ), concerning the ‘Language Acquisition and Language Learning’ course. The data analysis was later carried out by the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) program. The study revealed mixed findings regarding students’ motivational beliefs and use of learning strategies. Additionally, it identified a positive correlation between students’ motivation and their use of learning strategies.