Drivers of student engagement in higher education: a behavioral reasoning theory perspective

Student engagement is a crucial factor in the success of students enrolled in higher education. Despite the existence of numerous studies on the factors that influence student engagement, investigating the factors that affect the level of student engagement in higher education is important. In applying the behavioral reasoning theory (BRT), this research investigates factors that influence freshman students’ decisions to engage in academic activities. Data have been collected from a sample of students enrolled in management studies at the University of Federico II in Naples, Italy. The results highlight that reasons serve as important links between students’ values, global motives, and engagement behavior, confirming one of the main premises of BRT. In particular, the findings suggest that BRT is a good model to predict student engagement as global motives, intentions, and reasons for engagement have a significant direct effect on engagement. These findings support the importance of examining and reinforcing the reasons for engagement (facilitators) while minimizing the reasons against engagement (obstacles) in order to enhance students’ engagement in academic activities.