Measuring academic motivation to achieve for high school students using a Rasch measurement model
type: CreativeWork
description: Many models have been offered on students' motivation to achieve academically. However, most studies on motivation of students to achieve academically are called into question because they do not use an interval level scale, based on a good theoretical model, where attitude items are connected to behaviour items, even though motivation is defined as linked to behaviour. On the other hand, many researchers do not use qualitative methodologies as a preferred method to validate and triangulate data obtained from the questionnaire so as to add scope and breadth to the study. Most researchers have only used either qualitative or quantitative methods but not both. This study uses both the questionnaire and the Interview format so as to allow for flexibility and 'the opportunity to clarify questions and responses with the subjects in order to understand more about students' motivation to achieve academically. The study had two phases. The first phase involved completing a questionnaire on motivation to achieve academically. In this phase, a person convenience sample of 522 high school students of senior (A-level) classes (Years 12 and 13) was used. The sample was taken from three high schools in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah state in Malaysia. The sample consisted of 294 girls (56%) and 228 boys (44%). The stem-item sample• was initially 50, and was written in ordered-by-difficulty patterns. Phase one involved testing a conceptual model of academic motivation involving attitudes and behaviours in relation to three main aspects (striving for excellence, desire to learn, and personal incentives) and 12 sub-aspects. The motivation scale created in this study supports the view that nine out of 12 sub-aspects form the structure of motivation for years 12 and 13 students in Malaysia. The supported structure involves striving for excellence (standards, goals, tasks, effort, and ability) (but not values), desire to learn (interest and learning from others) (but not responsibility for Learn…
abstract: Many models have been offered on students' motivation to achieve academically. However, most studies on motivation of students to achieve academically are called into question because they do not use an interval level scale, based on a good theoretical model, where attitude items are connected to behaviour items, even though motivation is defined as linked to behaviour. On the other hand, many researchers do not use qualitative methodologies as a preferred method to validate and triangulate data obtained from the questionnaire so as to add scope and breadth to the study. Most researchers have only used either qualitative or quantitative methods but not both. This study uses both the questionnaire and the Interview format so as to allow for flexibility and 'the opportunity to clarify questions and responses with the subjects in order to understand more about students' motivation to achieve academically. The study had two phases. The first phase involved completing a questionnaire on motivation to achieve academically. In this phase, a person convenience sample of 522 high school students of senior (A-level) classes (Years 12 and 13) was used. The sample was taken from three high schools in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah state in Malaysia. The sample consisted of 294 girls (56%) and 228 boys (44%). The stem-item sample• was initially 50, and was written in ordered-by-difficulty patterns. Phase one involved testing a conceptual model of academic motivation involving attitudes and behaviours in relation to three main aspects (striving for excellence, desire to learn, and personal incentives) and 12 sub-aspects. The motivation scale created in this study supports the view that nine out of 12 sub-aspects form the structure of motivation for years 12 and 13 students in Malaysia. The supported structure involves striving for excellence (standards, goals, tasks, effort, and ability) (but not values), desire to learn (interest and learning from others) (but not responsibility for Learn…
author: Njiru, Joseph Njeru
keywords: High school students, Malaysia, Attitudes, Motivation in education., Educational Psychology
date published: 2003-01-01T08:00:00Z
date modified: 2026-07-27T19:21:40Z
provider: Edith Cowan University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia