This study develops and validates a Multidimensional Scale of Medical Students’ Motivation to Study Medicine to examine the varied motivational patterns among medical students, with a focus on gender and admission pathway differences. Using a cross-sectional survey design, 307 students from diverse entry routes completed a self-constructed questionnaire. Exploratory factor analysis identified eight motivation dimensions, which were further clustered into five distinct motivational types through K-means cluster analysis. Findings revealed that male students scored significantly higher than females in the dimensions of intrinsic professional pursuit, health-related inspiration from family and friends, and political and expert influence, suggesting a stronger emphasis on career ambition and familial health values. In contrast, female students demonstrated higher motivation from self-expectation and personal growth. Postgraduate entrants exhibited significantly higher scores in professional pursuit, social contribution, family health inspiration, and career development, indicating more mature, socially oriented motivations. Cluster analysis showed that the dominant profiles were self-achievement-oriented and multidimensional integrated, with the former being the most common. Male students were more often classified under the highly integrated type, while female students tended toward the self-achievement-oriented type, underscoring gendered differences in motivation emphasis. This study enhances understanding of the nuanced motivational structures among medical students and offers practical implications for curriculum planning, career guidance, and the design of personalized educational interventions in medical training contexts.

Authors:
Shu-Ching Yang, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan
Chih Ting Chang, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan

About the Presenter(s)
Chih Ting Chang is currently a Ph.D. student in education at the Social Sciences College, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Sunday Schedule

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