L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, a dissertation defense for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) by Turarova Gulnaz on the topic «Psychological predictors of volitional qualities in academically successful students at universities» to the educational program «8D03103 – Psychology».
The dissertation was carried out at the «Psychology» of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University.
The language of defense is kazakh
Official reviewers:
Zhubanazarova Nazirash Suleimenovna – al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Department of General and Applied Psychology, Candidate of Psychological Sciences, Associate Professor (Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan).
Bapaeva Mariyam Kurmangalievna – Candidate of Psychological Sciences, Acting Professor, Kazakh National Women's Pedagogical University (Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan).
Temporary members of the Dissertation Council:
Agazhayeva Lilia Onerkhanovna - Candidate of Psychological Sciences, Colonel of the State Security Service of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan);
Sadykova Nazira Margushovna – Candidate of Psychological Sciences, Assistant Professor of the Department of General and Applied Psychology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan);
Kudryavtsev Vladimir Tovievich – Doctor of Psychological Sciences, Professor at the Moscow Institute of Psychoanalysis (Moscow, Russian Federation).
Scientific advisors:
Mambetalina Aliya Saktaganovna – Candidate of Psychological Sciences, Acting Professor of the Department of Psychology, Eurasian National University named after L.N. Gumilyov (Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan).
Asil Ozdogru – PhD, Associate Professor of the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Marmara University (Istanbul, Turkey).
The defense will take place on December 29, 2025, at 10:00 AM in the Dissertation Council for the training direction «8D031 – Social sciences» in the specialty «8D03103 – Psychology» of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University. The defense meeting is planned to be held online.
Link: https://clck.ru/3QWzD3
Address: Astana, Adolf Yanushkevich Street 6, Room 106
Abstract (English): Research topic: Psychological predictors of volitional qualities in academically successful students at universities. The purpose of the research is to identify psychological predictors that determine volitional qualities of university students demonstrating high levels of academic achievement. Research objectives: 1) to define the category of “volition” within psychological science and reveal the content of personality volitional qualities; 2) to analyze the content of the academic success concept within psychological theories and describe the structure of psychological predictors of volitional qualities in academically successful students; 3) to develop and substantiate a program for empirical investigation of psychological predictors of volitional qualities in academically successful university students; 4) to conduct quantitative and qualitative analysis of empirical research results on psychological predictors of volitional qualities in academically successful university students, and develop practical recommendations. Research methods: Theoretical: theoretical analysis of scientific and methodological literature on the research problem (forecasting, comparison, evaluation, synthesis, and others); Empirical methods included: N.E. Stambulova's methodology “Self-assessment of students” volitional qualities”; E.P. Ilyin's questionnaire “Assessment of self-persistence”; A. Vysotsky's methodology “Application of observation method for self-assessment of volitional qualities”; methodology “Assessment of self-organization”; N.N. Obozov's methodology “Self-assessment of volitional qualities”, GPA indicator to determine the level of academic success, the methodology “Academic Achievement Motivation” by T.O. Gordeeva, O.A. Sychev, E.N. Osin (2014) (including cognitive motivation, achievement motivation, self-development motivation, self-esteem motivation, introjected motivation, external motivation, and amotivation), K. Izard's methodology “Differential Emotions Scale”, J. Rotter's methodology “Locus of Control”, M. N. Kuhn, T. S. McPartland's methodology “Self-assessment” . Mathematical-statistical methods: mathematical and statistical processing and interpretation of data using the SPSS-23 statistical program; arithmetic mean; standard deviation; factor analysis, Student's criterion; Levene's test for equality of variances, Spearman's r correlation analysis, effect sizes (Cohen's d/Hedges'g (D. Cohen and G. Hedges). Provisions submitted for defense: 1) Volition represents a complex integrated psychological phenomenon reflecting a set of goal-directed actions, contributing to the regulation of conscious voluntary behavior of the personality and ensuring achievement of set goals through the interconnection of human behavior and activity. This definition of the volition concept is proposed based on works studied during the research and analysis of international experience. 2) Psychological predictors of volitional qualities in academically successful students represent a structure consisting of motivational, cognitive, activity-based, emotional, and reflective components. 3) The volitional qualities and motivational characteristics of students are constantly developing in educational activities and undergo certain changes from course to course, which is an important psychological factor ensuring their academic success. 4) A close correlational relationship has been identified among such volitional qualities of academically successful students as purposefulness, courage and decisiveness, persistence and tenacity, initiative, self-regulation, and self-control, meaning that volitional qualities of academically successful students are closely integrated with the system of personal self-awareness and represent not only a means of achieving goals but also reflect the maturity of the subject. According to four-factor analysis results, factors affecting high levels of academic success among students were identified: motivational, volitional qualities, emotional, and external motivational factors, while three-factor analysis determined factors of internal motivation, locus of control, and persistence, initiative/independence. Characteristics of main research results: 1) the concept of volition has been clarified as a complex integrated phenomenon representing a set of goal-directed actions of the personality, demonstrating conscious voluntary behavior and reflecting the interconnection of human behavior and activity in achieving one's goals; 2) the content of the academic success concept in psychological theories has been analyzed, and the structure of psychological predictors of volitional qualities in academically successful students has been described; 3) a program for empirical investigation of psychological predictors of volitional qualities in academically successful university students has been developed and substantiated; 4) quantitative and qualitative analysis of empirical research results on psychological predictors of volitional qualities in academically successful university students has been conducted, and practical recommendations for developing volitional qualities have been provided. Substantiation of novelty and significance of obtained results and their correspondence to directions of scientific development. The novelty of the first result lies in the fact that the concept of "Volition" is substantiated not only as a function of action regulation but as an integral psychological mechanism directing conscious behavior of the personality and ensuring goal achievement. This definition is proposed based on systematization of contemporary international and domestic research and is distinguished by considering motivational, cognitive, and emotional regulation of volition in a unified structure. This novelty allows considering the volition category as a multi-component system of goal-directed personality behavior. The novelty of the second result consists in developing the structure of psychological predictors of volitional qualities in academically successful students, consisting of motivational, cognitive, activity-based, emotional, and reflective components, offering a new scientific direction in understanding mechanisms of volitional regulation in students. This structure enabled identification of main psychological factors ensuring achievement of success by students in educational activities. The novelty of the third result lies in the fact that for the first time a specific correlational system between volitional qualities and academic success has been identified; the research proved the close interconnection of students' purposefulness, their courage, decisiveness, self-regulation, persistence, and initiative. This determines that volitional qualities are integrated with the system of personal self-awareness, meaning that volition is not only a means of achieving goals but also an indicator of subject maturity. The novelty of the fourth result lies in the fact that volitional qualities of academically successful students are closely connected with personal self-awareness and reflect their maturity. According to factor analysis results, motivation, volitional qualities, emotional factor, and independence were identified as main factors contributing to success. Description of the doctoral candidate's contribution to preparing each publication: The total number of published works on the dissertation research content is 12, including in journals indexed in the Scopus database – 1, in scientific publications recommended by the Committee for Quality Assurance in Science and Higher Education of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan – 4, monograph – 1, in international conferences – 6. Each publication reflects individual aspects of the dissertation research. 1. The reciprocal relationships of cognitive motivational factors, non-cognitive motivational factors, and academic success among university students, Cogent Psychology, 2025, VOL. 12, NO. 1, 2500796, DOI: 10.1080/23311908.2025.2500796. (Scopus database percentile – 48%) (co-authors: Aliya Saktaganovna Mambetalina, Kehinde Clement Lawrence, Raushan Zhomartovna Tyulyupergeneva, Yelena Barabanova & Yuliya Kukina, doctoral student's contribution – 70%). The article analyzes the mutual influence between cognitive and non-cognitive motivational factors and academic success through structural equation modeling based on reciprocal determinism theory, revealing that academic success also influences its own determinants. 2. Empirical investigation of the dynamics of students' will qualities as subjects of the educational process in learning activities. – “Абай атындағы ҚазҰПУ “Педагогика және психология” ғылыми-әдістемелік журналы – 2021. – №4 (49) pp. 44-53 (CHEQA). (co-authors: A.S. Mambetalina, doctoral student's contribution – 80%). The article describes the results of an empirical study of the manifestation of the dynamics of students' volitional qualities as subjects of the educational process. The content of students' own volitional qualities and moral-volitional qualities as subjects of the educational process in learning activities is revealed, and their positive dynamics are determined. 3. Conceptual foundations of human will and volitional qualities in psychology. Bulletin of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, series “Pedagogy, Psychology, Sociology”, No. 2 (140). 2022. – pp. 309-320. (co-authors: A.S. Mambetalina, doctoral student's contribution – 80%). The article analyzes the theoretical and methodological foundations of the “will” category and volitional qualities of personality in modern psychology, describes its functions, structure, and classifications. The main factors of students' will development in the learning process are described. The results of a comparative analysis of the dynamics of students' will as subjects of the educational process are presented. 4. The results of an empirical study of the volitional qualities of university students. Bulletin of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, series “Pedagogy, Psychology, Sociology”, No. 1(142)/2023. – pp. 391-406. (co-authors: A.S. Mambetalina, B.K. Zhumagalieva, doctoral student's contribution – 70%). The article examines the significance of volitional qualities (purposefulness, persistence, endurance, self-control, etc.) in the process of professional training of students in higher education institutions, and presents the results of quantitative and qualitative analysis of the volitional dynamics of 3rd-4th year students. 5. Dynamics of volitional qualities in self-development of university students. Bulletin of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, series “Pedagogy, Psychology, Sociology”, No.1(150)/ 2025 – pp. 49-62. (co-authors: Asil Ozdorgu, doctoral student's contribution – 85%). The article determines the level of volitional qualities of university students and analyzes their dynamics by year of study through quantitative and psychodiagnostic methods. The results show a positive relationship between volitional qualities and self-development factors, determining their significance in preparing students for professional and life challenges. 6. Ерік сапаларының психологиялық денсаулық жағдайымен арақатынасы. Monograph. - Astana: “Bulatov A.Zh.” LLP, 2025. – 133 p. (co-authors: A.S. Mambetalina, doctoral student's contribution – 70%). The monograph examines the theoretical foundations of will and volitional qualities of personality in psychology, concepts of health, psychological health, and issues of volitional qualities development. The relationship between personality health and volitional qualities is described, and psychological-pedagogical conditions for enhancing volitional qualities are analyzed. An experimental study of the relationship between volitional qualities and psychological health status was conducted, and the obtained research results were analyzed. 7. Жоғары оқу орны білім алушыларының оқу іс-әрекетінде ерік сапаларының көріну ерекшеліктері. Proceedings of the international scientific-practical conference dedicated to the 60th anniversary of Professor G.Zh. Menlibekova “Қазіргі заманғы тұлға мен қоғамның психологиялық дайындығын дамытудың мәселелері мен перспективалары”. L.N. Gumilyov ENU, 2022. – pp. 348-352. (doctoral student's contribution – 100%). The article analyzes the problem of developing students' volitional qualities from a psychological-pedagogical perspective, and the results of a formative experiment conducted on the basis of motivational and activity components show statistically significant positive dynamics in enhancing their independence and self-regulation. 8. Академиялық табыстылыққа әсер ететін психологиялық факторлар. Proceedings of the international scientific-practical conference: “Science and Education: History, Current State, Development Prospects of Psychology in the Modern World”. Almaty, 2023. – pp. 250-254. (doctoral student's contribution – 100%). The article analyzes psychological factors affecting academic success and identifies the role of volitional qualities and self-regulation as the main factor. The research results serve as a basis for predicting students' success and developing scientific-methodological recommendations for its enhancement in the university educational process. 9. “Академиялық табыстылық” ұғымының педагогикалық-психологиялық сипаттамасы. Proceedings of the international scientific-practical conference: “Science and Education: History, Current State, Development Prospects of Psychology in the Modern World”. Almaty, 2023. – pp. 254-258. (doctoral student's contribution – 100%). The article comprehensively analyzes the concept of “academic success”, clarifies its essence and content, and describes from a pedagogical-psychological perspective the relationship with objective and subjective indicators of learning outcomes. 10. Особенности исследования волевых качеств студентов. Proceedings of the international scientific-practical conference “Actual Problems of Modern Psychological-Pedagogical Science”. - Astana 2023. – pp. 662–668. (co-authors: A.S. Mambetalina, doctoral student's contribution – 80%). The article studies students' volitional qualities in the conditions of the credit system of education, and based on theoretical analysis and empirical data, determines the dynamics of development of their independence, initiative and purposefulness by year of study. The research results provide a scientific-methodological basis for improving the educational process and forming professionally significant qualities of future specialists. 11. “Development of students' volitional qualities in the conditions of the modern learning process”. Proceedings of the international scientific-practical conference on “Psychological features of modern personality development in the years of sustainable socio-economic development of society” – November 1, Tashkent 2023. - pp. 252-255. (co-authors: A.S. Mambetalina, doctoral student's contribution – 80%). The article analyzes the features of developing students' volitional qualities from a psychological-pedagogical perspective, and identifies motivation, value system, and the role of learning activity as decisive factors in forming their persistence, independence, and self-regulation ability. The research results show that purposeful development of volitional qualities in the university educational process is an important component of professional training of future specialists. 12. Жоғары оқу орны білім алушыларының академиялық жетістіктеріне әсер ететін мотивациялық факторлар. Proceedings of the international scientific-practical conference “Psychology in Central Asia: Development Paths and Future”. 28.05.2025, “KazServicePrintLTD” LLP, Astana. – pp. 616-620. (co-authors: A.S. Mambetalina, S.K. Turarov, doctoral student's contribution – 70%). The article examines the features of learning motivation as a psychological condition for the academic achievements of higher education institution students. For the purpose of studying the learning motivation of students with high academic achievements, internal and external motivational factors affecting academic achievements were identified.
Conclusion of the Research Ethics Committee
Defense of the dissertation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovBbK5lqGQA
