Does the “zombie learner” phenomenon negatively effects students’ motivation to study and academic performance: a study in Vietnam

Purpose This study aims to investigate the zombie learner phenomenon in Vietnamese higher education and examines its impact on students’ learning motivation and academic performance. Design/methodology/approach Based on the research model adapted from previous research, which considering “zombie learner” by its manifestations, and consolidating its scales through qualitative studies; using survey data from 999 university students in Vietnam, the authors applied structural equation modeling (SEM) to assess the impact of this phenomenon on academic motivation and performance. Findings The results reveal that the “zombie learner” phenomenon significantly negatively affects students' motivation to learn, which in turn leads to a decline in academic performance. Among the identified characteristics, “lack of autonomy” and “lack of engagement” from classmates have the strongest negative effects on students' motivation. Additionally, academic motivation is shown to have a direct positive impact on learning outcomes. Research limitations/implications The research focuses on university students in Vietnam and reveals the directions for further studies in other contexts. Practical implications This research provides valuable recommendations for educators and academic administrators to foster a more engaging learning environment that encourages participation, thereby mitigating the “zombie learner” effect and improving students' academic performance enhancing teaching quality and student motivation. Originality/value Besides the confirmation of the effect of the existence of zombie learners on motivation and learning outcomes, like other studies, this study adds two controlling variables with the “major” and “tuition fees” on the two dependent variables “learning motivation” and “academic performance.” Studying an attractive major will lead to higher motivation and academic performance. Similarly, having to pay high tuition fees can also be both a motivation and a pressure for students to study, thereby achieving better academic performance.