Exploring the motivational dynamics of chinese learners on tandem and hellotalk: A self-determination theory perspective

IF 1.7 4区心理学 Q3 PSYCHOLOGY, BIOLOGICAL

Learning and Motivation Pub Date : 2025-02-26 DOI:10.1016/j.lmot.2025.102113

Liang Yin , Jalil Fathi

{"title":"Exploring the motivational dynamics of chinese learners on tandem and hellotalk: A self-determination theory perspective","authors":"Liang Yin , Jalil Fathi","doi":"10.1016/j.lmot.2025.102113","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With the increasing popularity of online language exchange platforms, understanding the motivational dynamics that drive learners' engagement and persistence in these informal learning environments is crucial. This study explores how the satisfaction of basic psychological needs—autonomy, competence, and relatedness—impacts the motivation of Chinese learners of English participating in online language exchange platforms, specifically Tandem and HelloTalk. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory (SDT), the research employed a quantitative design involving 120 Chinese learners of English. Participants completed measures assessing motivation, psychological needs satisfaction, and engagement with the platforms. Data analysis, including descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, multiple regression, and moderation analysis, revealed that autonomy and competence were the strongest predictors of intrinsic motivation, while relatedness had a more significant impact on extrinsic motivation. Amotivation was negatively correlated with autonomy and competence, highlighting the importance of satisfying these needs to prevent disengagement. Additionally, platform usage frequency moderated the relationship between autonomy and intrinsic motivation, amplifying its effects with increased usage. These findings underscore the critical role of basic psychological needs in shaping motivation in informal, peer-to-peer language learning contexts. The study suggests that online language exchange platforms can be optimized by incorporating features that support learners' needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness, such as personalized learning paths, opportunities for social interaction, and effective feedback mechanisms. These findings offer valuable insights for educators and platform designers seeking to enhance learner motivation and promote successful language learning experiences in online environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47305,"journal":{"name":"Learning and Motivation","volume":"90 ","pages":"Article 102113"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7000,"publicationDate":"2025-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Learning and Motivation","FirstCategoryId":"102","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0023969025000207","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"PSYCHOLOGY, BIOLOGICAL","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

With the increasing popularity of online language exchange platforms, understanding the motivational dynamics that drive learners' engagement and persistence in these informal learning environments is crucial. This study explores how the satisfaction of basic psychological needs—autonomy, competence, and relatedness—impacts the motivation of Chinese learners of English participating in online language exchange platforms, specifically Tandem and HelloTalk. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory (SDT), the research employed a quantitative design involving 120 Chinese learners of English. Participants completed measures assessing motivation, psychological needs satisfaction, and engagement with the platforms. Data analysis, including descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, multiple regression, and moderation analysis, revealed that autonomy and competence were the strongest predictors of intrinsic motivation, while relatedness had a more significant impact on extrinsic motivation. Amotivation was negatively correlated with autonomy and competence, highlighting the importance of satisfying these needs to prevent disengagement. Additionally, platform usage frequency moderated the relationship between autonomy and intrinsic motivation, amplifying its effects with increased usage. These findings underscore the critical role of basic psychological needs in shaping motivation in informal, peer-to-peer language learning contexts. The study suggests that online language exchange platforms can be optimized by incorporating features that support learners' needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness, such as personalized learning paths, opportunities for social interaction, and effective feedback mechanisms. These findings offer valuable insights for educators and platform designers seeking to enhance learner motivation and promote successful language learning experiences in online environments.

查看原文本刊更多论文

自我决定理论视角下汉语学习者习得tandem和hellotalk的动机动态研究

随着在线语言交换平台的日益普及，理解驱动学习者在这些非正式学习环境中参与和坚持的动机动态至关重要。本研究探讨了自主、能力和关联等基本心理需求的满足对中国英语学习者参与在线语言交流平台（Tandem和HelloTalk）的动机的影响。本研究以自我决定理论为基础，对120名中国英语学习者进行了定量研究。参与者完成了评估动机、心理需求满意度和参与平台的测量。数据分析包括描述性统计、相关分析、多元回归和调节性分析，结果表明自主性和胜任力是内在动机的最强预测因子，而相关性对外在动机的影响更为显著。动机与自主性和能力呈负相关，强调了满足这些需求以防止脱离工作的重要性。此外，平台使用频率调节了自主性和内在动机之间的关系，随着使用频率的增加，其影响会被放大。这些发现强调了在非正式的、对等的语言学习环境中，基本心理需求在形成动机方面的关键作用。该研究表明，在线语言交流平台可以通过整合个性化学习路径、社交互动机会和有效反馈机制等支持学习者自主性、能力和相关性需求的功能来优化。这些发现为教育工作者和平台设计师提供了宝贵的见解，他们希望在网络环境中提高学习者的动机，促进成功的语言学习体验。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Learning and Motivation Multiple-

CiteScore

2.90

自引率

0.00%

发文量

期刊介绍： Learning and Motivation features original experimental research devoted to the analysis of basic phenomena and mechanisms of learning, memory, and motivation. These studies, involving either animal or human subjects, examine behavioral, biological, and evolutionary influences on the learning and motivation processes, and often report on an integrated series of experiments that advance knowledge in this field. Theoretical papers and shorter reports are also considered.