The Relationship Between Attitudes, Motivations and Gender in Learners of English for Academic Purposes

Abstract

The relationship between attitudes and motivation towards gender roles in English for Academic Purposes (EAP) has been an under-researched field. Therefore, this study aims to answer three main questions, namely; what are current gender attitudes, gender motivation, and correlation of female and male students in the context of EAP. This study uses mixed-approach where information extraction is carried out by surveying 245 students spread across exact and social sciences using two questionnaires about perceptions and orientations of motivation and interviewing seven selected respondents. Furthermore, the data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation test, and interview processing. The results showed five findings: first, all students had a positive attitude (75.9%) and motivation (72.06%). Second, female students have a higher attitude (78.09%) and stronger motivation (84%) compared to male students (76.18% and 70%). Third, students' attitudes and their motivation had a moderate correlation (r= .382). Fourth, the attitudes of male and female students have a strong and positive correlation (r=.979). Fifth, the motivation and attitudes of male students are strongly correlated (r=.992). Interview data of this study has also confirmed why and how they are allied. Male and female learners have different tendencies in completing assignments because each has a different degree of perception on attitude and motivation in learning EAP.