The Role of Motivational Instructional Design in Self-Directed Learning and Achievement Motivation in Higher Education

Teaching remains central to higher education, where increasing demands for learner autonomy require instructional approaches that effectively support students’ motivation and engagement. This study examined the relationship between motivational instructional design, based on Keller’s attention, relevance, confidence, and satisfaction (ARCS) model, and two learner outcomes: self-directed learning (SDL) readiness and achievement motivation among university students. A sample of 134 undergraduate and graduate students from an Iranian university completed validated questionnaires assessing ARCS-based motivational instructional design, SDL readiness, and achievement motivation. Pearson correlation and multiple regression analyses indicated significant positive relationships between motivational instructional design, SDL, and achievement motivation. Among the ARCS dimensions, attention emerged as the strongest predictor of both SDL and achievement motivation. The findings suggest that attention-capturing instructional strategies may play an important role in supporting learner engagement, autonomous learning behaviors, and academic motivation in higher education. The study highlights the pedagogical value of incorporating motivational principles into instructional design and recommends further research examining contextual and learner-related factors influencing these relationships.