10.57647/jelpp.2025.1802.15

Investigating Motivational Factors in Vocabulary Growth: A Gender-based Comparative Analysis of Iranian adolescents EFL Elementary Learners

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  • Hossein Siahpoosh*1,
  • Masoomeh Maleki1,
  1. Department of English, Ardabil Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ardabil, Iran

Received: 2024-05-13

Accepted: 2025-01-10

Published in Issue 2025-12-31

Copyright (c) 2026 Hossein Siahpoosh, Masoomeh Maleki (Author)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Siahpoosh, H., & Maleki, M. (2025). Investigating Motivational Factors in Vocabulary Growth: A Gender-based Comparative Analysis of Iranian adolescents EFL Elementary Learners. Journal of English Language Pedagogy and Practice, 18(2). https://doi.org/10.57647/jelpp.2025.1802.15
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Abstract

This study examines how intrinsic and extrinsic motivational factors influence vocabulary acquisition among elementary-level English learners, with particular attention to gender differences. Recognizing the critical role of motivation in language acquisition, especially in the early stages of learning, the study focuses on a sample of 73 participants, comprising 61 females and 12 males, aged 13-16. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study explores how intrinsic and extrinsic motivational factors affect vocabulary development, considering possible gender variations. The data were collected from Iranian adolescent EFL learners through quantitative methods, including Gardner's Motivation Questionnaire (1985) and Nation's Vocabulary Size Test (2007). Spearman's Rho Correlation analysis was conducted to examine the relationships between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and vocabulary size, with a focus on gender differences. An Independent Samples Test was employed to assess any potential gender-based differences in motivation's impact on vocabulary acquisition. Despite expectations of significant correlations between motivational factors and vocabulary development, the results revealed no significant effect of either intrinsic or extrinsic motivation on vocabulary size. Furthermore, no gender-based differences were found in the impact of motivation on vocabulary acquisition. These findings suggest that while intrinsic and extrinsic motivational elements are important in language learning, further research is needed to better understand motivational dynamics in language acquisition, especially in relation to gender, given the lack of significant findings in this study.

Keywords

  • Extrinsic motivation,
  • Intrinsic motivation,
  • Females,
  • Male,
  • Vocabulary size
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