Social Integration in Higher Education and Development of Intrinsic Motivation: A Latent Transition Analysis.

This study, based on the self-determination theory, investigates the link between university students' social peer and teacher integration and intrinsic motivation development. Both integration contexts are expected to contribute to the student's development, either additive or compensatory. The analyses rely on a nationally representative sample of 7,619 German university students (NEPS data set) and cover the time between the 3rd and 5th semesters in a longitudinal design. Person-centered analytical tools were applied to tap interindividual differences in the motivational trajectories as well as in integration profiles. Latent transition analyses revealed distinct links between the motivational trajectories ( [ = 532], [ = 2580], [ = 4,507]) and the integration profiles ( [ = 2,492], [ = 3832], [ = 1,144], [ = 151]), pointing to additive effects of teacher and peer integration. Positive trajectories were more likely in the than in profiles. The two profiles pointing to below-average integration levels ( and ) showed the same probabilities for rather negative trajectories. The results are discussed against the backdrop of self-determination theory and additive vs. compensatory effects of teacher and peer integration, proposing a threshold model.