Academic failure at the University level: motivational aspects and professional interests

A total of 103 students with a mean age of 21 years, who had failed their u niversity course, were evaluated via a series of questionnaires, objective personality and intelligence tests, and individual interviews. This study i ntends to describe the relationship between attitudinal aspects (motivation al aspects and professional interests) and academic failure, irrespective o f the level of intelligence. The vocational profile of the failing students was also drawn up, and its congruence determined with respect to the choic e of course studied. Results indicate that the attitudinal and motivational aspects have a potential to predict academic failure which is equal or sup erior to that of the cognitive and intellectual aspects. These students sho wed clear symptoms of learned helplessness, low intrinsic motivation and po or tendencies to personal and/or professional fulfillment (learning behavio urs). On the other hand, these results emphasize the consideration of the i mportance of compatibility between vocation and professional selection in o rder to guarantee academic success.