Measuring Strength of Motivation for Medical School

Abstract

Purpose. Students vary in their strength of motivation to start and pursue medical training. This study was conducted to investigate the psychometric properties of a Strength of Motivation for Medical School (SMMS) questionnaire. Method. The questionnaire was designed using an iterative method. The instrument was applied to medical students (N= 296) at the start of medical school and to potential applicants (N= 147). The stability of the concept over a six month’s time and associations with other motivation measures were studied. A separate group of potential applicants and their parents (N= 169) were asked to validate the items of the questionnaire. Results. Cronbach’s alpha reliability of .79 was found. Test-retest reliability of SMMS-scores with a six months interval was .71. Little to no association with specific dimensions of motivation was found, except for a negative correlation with ‘ambivalence towards studying’. SMMS-scores were associated with potential applicants’ plans to apply for medical school (Spearman’s rho .65) and differentially with potential applicants’ and their parents’ judgements of item validities (.13 to .57). Conclusions. The SMMS-questionnaire appears to be a reliable and valid instrument to measure strength of motivation for medical training in students who have just entered medical school. It may be used to evaluate the validity of selection procedures and to identify associated variables that could be used in selection procedures.