Impact of Expectation of Higher Education and Achievement Motivation on Student’s Perception of Purpose in Life

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to explore the impa ct of expectation of university study on student’s perception of purpose in life by considering the role of achievement motivation. Based on classic measuremen ts PIL, AMS and EUS, the empirical research method, including descriptive st ati tics analysis, regression analysis and mediation effect test, was conducted on a samp le consisted by 412 undergraduate students coming from national wide universities. Fo ur main findings were illustrated. First, student’s perception of purpose in life is e ntir ly low, with the mean value of 60.8 scores. Second, individual characteristics (sex, gr ade, major, household register, university type) are not related with PIL. Third, b oth the study expectation and the employment expectation are significantly related wi th PIL. Fourth, achievement motivation plays mediating role in the relations be tween expectations and PIL, with mediation effects of 6.75% and 7.87%, respectively. The findings comprehensively demonstrated that the expectations of study and fut ure employment established at the very beginning of university education can determin e student’s perception of PIL significantly, and part of the impact is transferre d by student’s achievement motivation.