Validation of the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire and Instructional Materials Motivation Survey

Medical Teacher (05/28/24) Cook, David A.; Skrupky, Lee P.

Researchers evaluated learner motivations and the motivational properties of educational activities with two tools, the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ) and the Instructional Materials Motivation Survey (IMMS). After completing an online learning module in April 2021, 333 participants—pharmacists, physicians and advanced practice providers—filled out the MSLQ and IMMS as well as the Congruence-Personalization Questionnaire (CPQ) and a knowledge test. For most domains, Cronbach alpha was =0.70. However, using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on one sample, the researchers found suboptimal fit for both MSLQ and IMMS. When negatively-worded items were omitted, revised IMMS (RIMMS) scores indicated an improved fit. Exploratory factor analysis helped identify a novel three-domain, 11-item MSLQ-Short Form-Revised (MSLQ-SFR) and the four-domain, 12-item RIMMS as good models. Their value was confirmed with CFA on a second sample. "Correlations among MSLQ-SFR, RIMMS and CPQ scores aligned with predictions; correlations with knowledge scores were small," the researchers noted.

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