Changes in new recruits’ motivation and intentions to use a learning portfolio

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine motivation and intentions to complete a learning portfolio. Seventy newly recruited Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) at a UK police constabulary completed questionnaires at four different time points during training that examined their perceptions of the instrumentality of the learning portfolio and their intention to complete it. Results revealed decreases in motivation and intention over the four training periods, with substantially lower ratings six months into training. This study provides insight of the malleability of motivation and attitudes towards the learning portfolio, suggesting that trainers should pay more attention to motivational processes.