The Relationship between Self-determination and Life Goals Achievement of Senior Secondary School Students

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between self-determination and life goals achievements of senior secondary school students. To assess the phenomena mixed method approach with an explanatory research design was employed.  Using a stratified simple random sampling technique, a sample of 304 senior secondary school students were selected from the sample zones for the study. After the data was collected using questionnaires and focus group discussions quantitatively percentage, correlation and multiple regression statistical analysis were computed to notice the result, while theme analysis was employed for qualitative data result. The result of statistical analysis revealed 19.5% significant contribution of self-determination to life goal achievement, while the reverse life goal achievement also contributes 21.8% for self-determination. The qualitative results also confirmed that self-determined students are competent enough, autonomous and have a sense of relatedness that helps them develop self-confidence and self-reliance which facilitates one’s life goal achievement. In turn, achieving one’s life goal also boosts one’s self-determination through developing self-efficacy.  Thus, it was concluded that both variables can contribute to each other as self-determination contributes to life goal achievement; achieving one’s life goals also strengthens one’s self-determination. Hence, it was recommended that students have to be trained on how to gain the skills and knowledge of self-determination to facilitates their life goal achievement.