Exploring the Meaning of Motivation in Learning: A Qualitative Inquiry among Students

The fundamental inquiry into why students engage, persist, or withdraw from the learning process remains a central pillar of educational psychology. While quantitative metrics have traditionally dominated the field by providing correlations between motivational traits and academic achievement, they often fail to capture the lived nuances and subjective meanings that students assign to their educational journeys. This research paper employs a qualitative, phenomenological approach to explore the meaning of motivation among undergraduate students, with a specific focus on the diverse and evolving Indian higher education context. Drawing on a purposive sample of 25 undergraduate students from an urban university setting, the study utilizes semi-structured interviews to uncover the internal and external dialogues that shape their drive to learn. Grounded in the synergy of Self-Determination Theory (SDT), Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, and Expectancy-Value Theory (EVT), the analysis identifies five core themes: intrinsic sparks as anchors of resilience, the double-edged nature of extrinsic pressures, the pivotal role of relational "relatedness" (including the "guru-shishya" bond), socio-cultural barriers as burdens of identity, and the psychological toll of the grade-oriented "race." The findings suggest that motivation is not a static trait but a fluid, context-bound phenomenon influenced by familial expectations, economic realities, and institutional empathy. The paper concludes by emphasizing the need for "motivation mapping" and relational pedagogy to nurture intrinsic drives equitably. This research provides critical insights for educators, institutional leaders, and policymakers aiming to foster student-centered learning environments in a post-pandemic landscape.