A Technique for Assessing Learning Motivation in Primary School Age

Abstract

The article describes the development of a diagnostic tool for determining the level of learning motivation in primary school children. The questionnaire developed by the authors includes 4 scales: negative attitude towards full-time schooling, demonstration of competence, positive attitude towards school life, and social significance of learning as a value. The study was carried out on a stage-by-stage basis and involved 352 students of 3—4 grades of Moscow schools in the first stage and 364 students in the second. The first stage allowed us to select 15 out of 33 judgments which differentiate the answers of children the most. These judgments made up the final version of the questionnaire which was used in the subsequent stages of the study. Standardization of the questionnaire showed the internal consistency of its scales and the correspondence between the indicators of motivation obtained in the test and the expert assessments of teachers. The results obtained in the study demonstrate construct validity and reliability of the “Learning Motivation Level” questionnaire. The developed technique can be used for monitoring purposes in primary schools in order to study and assess children’s motivation and needs, in counseling and research practice, and for assessing the effectiveness of various educational programs.

Keywords

• learning motivation
• primary schoolchildren
• approbation and validation of test
• factor analysis
• reliability