Motivational attitudes of personality of potential scientific and technical elite of Russia

Introduction. The article presents a theoretical analysis of the need-motivational sphere of the individual, identifying its most important features. The purpose of this analysis was to reveal and substantiate such a substantive component of the theoretical model of the psychology of the subject of the modern scientific and engineering elite as the need-motivational one. To substantiate and test the theoretical model, a comprehensive empirical study was carried out aimed at studying the psychological characteristics of the personality of a representative of the scientific and technical community. Particular emphasis was placed on the study of promising youth (students).

Materials and Methods. The following psychodiagnostic tools were used in the study: diagnostics of socio-psychological attitudes of the individual in the motivational-need sphere by O.F. Potemkina, “coping test” (the technique was developed by R. Lazarus and S. Folkman, adapted by T.L. Kryukova, E.V. Kuftyak, M.S. Zamyshlyaeva), emotional intelligence test by D.V. Lyusin (EmIn). A comparative analysis of the results obtained was carried out using methods of mathematical statistics (Kruskal-Wallis H test), and correlation analysis (Spearman) was also used. The study sample consisted of first-year engineering and technical students of the National Research Nuclear University "MEPhI" in the amount of 111 people, who were distributed into 3 groups: Institute of Nanotechnologies in Electronics, Spintronics and Photonics (INTEL) – 15 people; Engineering Physics Institute of Biomedicine (IFIB) – 27 people; Institute of Laser and Plasma Technologies (LAPLAZ) – 69 people.

Results. Comparative data analysis showed differences between samples. They are expressed in the type of motivation, in the orientation “towards the result” or “process”. The study showed some alarming trends: purely engineering students are more focused on material values and social benefits, while being emotionally restrained and low in contact. Materials scientists and biomedical specialties are focused on communicative interaction and social support, and are more emotionally relaxed.

Discussion and Conclusions. The empirical study, and especially its results, confirmed the feasibility of using the theoretical model and showed its viability. A comparative analysis made it possible to identify common and special features in the manifestation of motivational attitudes among students of various technical profiles.

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