Critical Synthesis Package: Strength of Motivation for Medical School—Revised (SMMS-R) Questionnaire

Abstract

Abstract This Critical Synthesis Package contains: (1) a Critical Analysis of the psychometric properties and application to health sciences education for the Strength of Motivation for Medical School-Revised (SMMS-R) Questionnaire, and (2) a copy of the SMMS-R instrument and the SMMS-R scoring guide developed by Olle Ten Cate, PhD The SMMS-R is a 15-item self-report measure that evaluates the strength of motivation new medical students have for training in medical school. It includes three sub-scales identified through a factor analysis: Willingness to Sacrifice, Readiness to Start, and Persistence. Responses are provided on a 5-point Likert scale from one (strongly disagree) to five (strongly agree). Scores can be calculated individually by sub-scale or by summing the scores from all of the sub-scales to create an overall Strength of Motivation for Medical School score. Scores can range from five to 25 on the individual sub-scales and from 15 to 75 for the overall scale. Although the measure has demonstrated adequate internal consistency and test-retest reliability, as well as validity, the authors suggest further studies on the psychometric properties. Its recommended use is not as a tool to accept or reject applicants to medical school, but rather for post-hoc analyses to examine the relations between motivation and other factors (e.g., academic successes). Having a more cohesive understanding of the strength of motivation for medical school could help administrators and faculty members target students who may need interventions to improve strength of motivation.

Keywords

• Medical
• Assessment
• DREAM
• Directory and Repository of Educational Assessment Measures
• Motivation
• Educational