Graduate Program

College Student Affairs

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Semester of Degree Completion

2016

Thesis Director

Richard L. Roberts

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine the differences in motivation between fraternity and non-fraternity freshmen males. The researcher hypothesized that there would be no significant motivational factor to consume alcohol among the population and no significant difference between fraternity and non-fraternity freshmen males. To better examine differences, a quantitative study was conducted by surveying the population of freshmen males at a mid-sized, Midwestern, 4-year, public institution. The Situational Motivation Scale (SIMS) was used to measure four types of motivation: intrinsic motivation, external regulation, identified regulation, and amotivation. Out of the 58 participants, 48 surveys were usable (N = 40 non-fraternity participants and N = 8 fraternity participants). The use of an independent samples t-test resulted in no significant motivational factors to consume alcohol among either population. However, there was a significant difference between the fraternity and non-fraternity participants on internal motivation (p =p = .001). The results suggest that freshmen males in fraternities are more likely to be motivated through peers and external regulation than their peers that do not belong to a fraternity.

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