Table 1 Comparison of occurrence of descriptions of autonomous and controlled motivation between selected and non-selected applicants

Autonomous motivation

N = 49; 75.4%

N = 143; 74.9%

p = 0.934

  Identified regulation

N = 32; 49.2%

N = 68; 35.6%

p = 0.052

  Intrinsic motivation

N = 17; 26.2%

N = 75; 39.3%

p = 0.057

Controlled motivation

N = 11; 16.9%

N = 21; 11.0%

p = 0.212

  Introjected regulation

N = 0; 0%

N = 0; 0%

  External regulation

N = 11; 16.9%

N = 21; 11.0%

p = 0.212