+Academic Motivation Scale (AMS)

Alivernini & Lucidi (2008)

Topic: Motivation - Academic Motivation

Description of measure: 

The Academic Motivation Scale (AMS) (Vallerand et al., 1992, 1993) consists of five subscales which assesses amotivation, external regulation, introjected regulation, identified regulation, and intrinsic motivation. 

Instructions: 

For each of the following items, indicate the extent to which you would respond to the question “Why do you go to school?” on a scale from 0 (Does not correspond at all) to 7 (Corresponds exactly).

Response Options:

(0) Does not correspond at all (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) Corresponds exactly

Items:

  1. Honestly, I don’t know; I really feel that I am wasting my time in school.
  2. I once had good resources for going to school; however, now I wonder whether I should continue.
  3. I can’t see why I go to school, and frankly, I couldn’t care less.
  4. I don’t know; I can’t understand what I am doing in school.
  5. Because I need at least a high-school degree in order to find a high-paying job later on.
  6. In order to obtain a more prestigious job later on.
  7. Because I want to have “the good life” later on.
  8. In order to have a better salary later on.
  9. To prove to myself that I am capable of completing my high-school degree.
  10. Because of the fact that when I succeed in school I feel important.
  11. To show myself that I am an intelligent person.
  12. Because I want to show myself that I can succeed in my studies.
  13. Because this will help me make a better choice regarding my career orientation.
  14. Because eventually it will enable me to enter the job market in a field that I like.
  15. Because I think that a high-school education will help me better prepare for the career I have chosen.
  16. Because I believe that my high school education will improve my competence as a worker
  17. Because I experience pleasure and satisfaction while learning new things.
  18. For the pleasure I experience when I discover new things never seen before.
  19. For the pleasure that I experience in broadening my knowledge about subjects which appeal to me.
  20. Because my studies allow me to continue to learn about many things that interest me.

Citation:

Alivernini, F., & Lucidi F. (2008). The academic motivation scale (AMS): factorial structure, invariance, and validity in the italian context. Testing, Psychometrics, Methodology, 15(4), 211-220.

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