Motivation and professional career choice among university students from the perspective of self-determination theory

Motivación y elección profesional en estudiantes universitarios desde la teoría de la autodeterminación

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Published: 2026-10-07
DOI: https://doi.org/10.33996/revistahorizontes.v10i44.1315
Keywords:
"Higher education"; "Motivation"; "University student"; "Professional career"; "Psychology"
Palabras Clave:
"Carrera profesional"; "Enseñanza superior"; "Estudiante universitario"; "Motivación"; "Psicología";

Main Article Content

Jorge Alberto Flores Morales
Universidad Privada del Norte. Lima, Perú
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3678-5511
Susana Solorzano Arias
Universidad Privada del Norte. Lima, Perú
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1620-4062
Tania Carmel Lip Marín de Salazar
Universidad Privada del Norte. Lima, Perú
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7439-1495
Background: Motivation is one of the factors that influences not only the choice of a career path but also the ability to remain in it despite social, economic, academic, or personal difficulties. Objective: To understand the underlying motivations in career choice through Self-Determination Theory (SDT) proposed by Deci and Ryan. Methodology: The research approach was qualitative with a phenomenological design. The unit of analysis consisted of 11 students selected through purposive sampling. The data collection technique was in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Results: The findings reveal the prevalence of intrinsic motivation. Regarding the basic psychological needs of competence and relatedness, there is a positive appreciation for becoming better psychology professionals. Conclusion: Motivation for career choice strengthens over time within a process of meaning-making guided by SDT, which not only sustains academic interest but also fosters a commitment to the quality of the future professional.
Contexto: La motivación es uno de los factores por el cual no solo se elige una opción profesional, sino también la que ayuda a mantenerse en ella a pesar de las dificultades sociales, económicas, académicas o personales. Objetivo: comprender las motivaciones subyacentes en la elección de la carrera profesional a través de la Teoría de la Autodeterminación (TAD) de Deci y Ryan. Metodología: El enfoque de la investigación fue cualitativo con diseño fenomenológico. La unidad de análisis estuvo constituida por 11 estudiantes seleccionados a través de un muestreo intencional. La técnica de recolección fue la entrevista semiestructurada a profundidad. Resultados: Los hallazgos revelan la prevalencia de la motivación intrínseca. En cuanto a las necesidades psicológicas básicas de competencia y relación, existe un aprecio positivo por ser mejores profesionales en psicología. Conclusión: La motivación para la elección de la carrera se va afianzando conforme pasa el tiempo dentro de un proceso de búsqueda de sentido guiado por la TAD, que no solo sostiene el interés académico, sino que compromete con la calidad del futuro profesional.

Article Details

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 44 (2026): Octubre - Diciembre

Section

Research Articles

How to Cite

Motivation and professional career choice among university students from the perspective of self-determination theory. (2026). Horizontes, 10(44), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.33996/revistahorizontes.v10i44.1315
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