Journal Article

Application of Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling to Evaluate the Academic Motivation Scale

Morin, Alexandre J. S., Valois, Pierre, Guay, Frédéric, Vallerand, Robert J., Litalien, David

2015

Overview

In this research, the authors examined the construct validity of scores of the Academic Motivation Scale using exploratory structural equation modeling. Study 1 and Study 2 involved 1,416 college students and 4,498 high school students, respectively. First, results of both studies indicated that the factor structure tested with exploratory structural equation modeling provides better fit to the data than the one tested with confirmatory factor analysis. Second, the factor structure was gender invariant in the exploratory structural equation modeling framework. Third, the pattern of convergent and divergent correlations among Academic Motivation Scale factors was more in line with theoretical expectations when computed with exploratory structural equation modeling rather than confirmatory factor analysis. Fourth, the configuration of convergent and divergent correlations connecting each Academic Motivation Scale factors to a validity criterion was more in line with theoretical expectations with exploratory structural equation modeling than with confirmatory factor analysis.

• Publisher: Routledge,Taylor & Francis Group, LLC,Taylor & Francis Inc
• Subject: Academic Motivation Scale / College Students / Construct Validity / Correlation / Correlation analysis / Discriminant analysis / Expectation / Expectations / Factor Analysis / Factor Structure / Foreign Countries / Gender / Gender Differences / High School Students / Learning Motivation / MEASUREMENT, STATISTICS, AND RESEARCH DESIGN / Measures (Individuals) / Motivation / Quebec / Scores / Secondary school students / Self Determination / Statistical analysis / Structural Equation Models / Student Motivation / Validity