Differences in self-evaluations of male and female students of the institutes of higher education of Estonia

Abstract

My aim in the present seminar paper was to find out whether the scores for males and females differ in academic and general self-efficacy, and in extrinsic and intrinsic motivation. Self-evaluations where measured with the academic self-efficacy scale (Üpraus, 2009), the Estonian version of the General Self-Efficacy Scale (Rimm and Jerusalemm, 1999) and the Estonian version of the Academic Motivation Scale (AMS-C 28) (Mägi, 2011). I used the SPSS program for my data analysis. The results showed that compared to males, females’ extrinsic motivation is significantly higher. The effect size is d=-0.416. Also females have higher intrinsic motivation than males. The effect size is d=-0.348. Additionally, females had higher mean level of academic self-efficacy than males. The effect size is d=-0.307. Only in general self-efficacy there were no significant gender differences found. Effect size is d=0.295.Possible reasons for the results are discussed and also the possibilities for further research.