A Quantitative Study Examining Students’ Perceptions of Their Alternative School Experience Through a Lens of Self-Determination Theory

Abstract

The following study investigates students’ perception of the alternative schools they attend through the lens of Self-Determination Theory. This research assesses current 18- to 21-year-old students attending alternative schools in the Pacific Northwest using a quantitative approach. The study, based in the Pacific Northwest with data collected specially in Idaho, utilizes a survey that gathers demographic data and student responses to a five-point Likert scale focused on self-determination and its subscales: autonomy, relatedness, and competence in an alternative school setting. This study addresses the gap in literature regarding Pacific Northwest alternative schools, their students, and the effectiveness of these schools.