SOURCES OF STUDENTS’ MOTIVATION TO TAKE UP PAID EMPLOYMENT DURING STUDYING

Abstract

The article presents the results of the research aimed at identifying the sources of students’ motivation to take up paid employment during the course of study. Motivation process and theoretical approaches towards its consideration – from the points of view of the content, of the process and based on the concept of reinforcement – are described. As for the content motivation is considered either as a function of pay, working time and working conditions, or as a function of autonomy and responsibility. The process approach focuses on the explanation of why people choose certain behavior in order to meet their needs and how they assess their satisfaction after achieving goals. Reinforcement concept explains the role of rewards in causing a change in behavior or maintaining unchanged behavior for some time. There are three areas of students’ activity: educational, professional and personal one. For  proper understanding of the concept of “professional activity” an overview of definitions concerning professional activity is done. The main assumptions of the research were that students undertake random jobs guided solely by remuneration. They do not pay attention whether there is any connection with the field of their study. The examination involved 478 students from 15 cities from all over Poland, who study at 43 universities. The research showed that the factors that influenced students’ decisions to take up a job are first of all the following: the need for earning, as well as the desire to gain experience and the need to become a financially independent person. Respondents, who declare compliance of their work with the field of study, additionally indicate the possibility of continuous self development. For the students, who declare work in line with their interest, self-fulfillment is a key focus.