BASIC PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS SATISFACTION, ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE: MEDIATING ROLE OF MOTIVATION

The self-determination theory (Ryan &Deci, 2000), states that an individual has innate basic psychological needs, which are constantly moving towards selffulfillment. Self-motivation along with basic psychological needs affect the academic performance of an individual. The focus of this study was to understand whether intrinsic, extrinsic or amotivation played the role of mediators in the relationship between basic psychological needs satisfaction and academic performance. The basic psychological needs satisfaction-general and the academic motivation scale were administered. The academic performance was measured by scores of the participant on the I.C.S.E. The data was analyzed using correlation and regression analysis. The results showed that none of the three motivation sub types, mediated the relationship between basic psychological needs satisfaction and academic performance. However, basic needs satisfaction was positively related to intrinsic motivation and negatively to amotivation, providing partial support to the SDT.