Academic Interest among Higher Secondary Students

Abstract

When a person is relatively stable or possess enduring predisposition, positive affective orientation, and tendency to persevere when working on certain specific academic content or task domains he is said to have interest. Theoretically, interests are often defined as the focused interaction between an individual and an object that results in an enduring affective disposition or orientation towards the object.  Individual interests are conceptualized as consisting of feeling and values. In the context of school learning, the development, maintenance, and enhancement of positive student-academic interests can improve the quality of learning and promote intrinsic motivation.  Thus, academic interests should not only be considered important facilitators of academic outcomes, but also as valued educational outcomes in their own right. The present study attempts to find out the level of Academic interest among students and the emergence and development of this feature will enable them to perform better in school.

Results: Female students, English medium students, Science students, Type of school and Fathers qualification have more Academic Interest than their counterparts.

Conclusion: Better Life skills programme may be implemented in Teacher Training institutions so that the future teacher can handle students better.