scholarly journals Construct Validation of Self-Determination Theory in Second Language Scale: The Bifactor Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling Approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdullah Alamer

The present study aimed to assess the construct validity of the Self-Determination Theory in Second Language Scale (SDT-L2; Alamer, 2021). The study involved 266 undergraduate students learning English as a second language (L2) in Saudi Arabia. The factorial structure of the SDT-L2 was examined using the advanced bifactor-Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling (ESEM) method. The scale provided adequate composite reliability and the bifactor ESEM provided unique details about the multidimensionality of the scale which accounted for the specific constructs (i.e., intrinsic, identified, introjected, and external regulations) and the general constructs (i.e., autonomous motivation and controlled motivation), and allowed for assessment of convergent and discriminant validity. Predictive validity was established by showing that autonomous motivation significantly predicted L2 performance, while controlled motivation did not. Overall, the study demonstrated the usefulness of the bifactor ESEM for construct validation purposes and the results showed that SDT-L2 is a valid scale to assess students’ L2 motivation based on SDT perspective.

2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (7) ◽  
pp. 2638-2664 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua L. Howard ◽  
Marylène Gagné ◽  
Alexandre J. S. Morin ◽  
Jacques Forest

This paper explores the nature of workplace motivation by testing the continuum structure of motivation proposed by self-determination theory through the application of relatively new and advanced methodological techniques. Specifically, we demonstrate the usefulness of the overarching bifactor exploratory structural equation modeling framework in organizational psychology and discuss implications of such models over more traditional confirmatory factor analyses. This framework is applied to responses obtained from 1,124 Canadian employees who completed a multidimensional measure of workplace motivation. The results support a continuum of self-regulation and illustrate the importance of accounting for quality of motivation in addition to its global quantity. Indeed, the results showed that specific types of motivation explained variance in covariates over and above the variance already explained by the global quantity of self-determination. The current study further demonstrates the limitation of the commonly used relative autonomy index and offers alternate conceptualizations of human motivation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 248-262
Author(s):  
Jia Rung Wu ◽  
Jessica Brooks ◽  
Fong Chan ◽  
Kanako Iwanaga ◽  
Nicole Ditchman ◽  
...  

BackgroundResearch evidence supports the assertion that healthy employees are happier and more productive. Employers prefer to hire healthy workers to reduce absenteeism. Rehabilitation counselors have started to explore health promotion interventions to help individuals with chronic health conditions and disability improve their physical and mental health as a strategy to increase their employment opportunities.PurposeThe present study evaluated a self-determination theory (SDT) model of physical activity and exercise in a sample of 218 individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain using structural equation modeling.ResultsThe SDT model fit the data well, accounting for 54% of the variance in physical activity and exercise. Relatedness was significantly associated with autonomous motivation for physical activity and exercise. Autonomous motivation was associated with competency. Competency was associated with physical activity and exercise. Autonomous motivation and competency mediated relatedness and physical activity and exercise.ImplicationsThis study contributes to an emerging body of theory-informed health promotion literature and identifies the specific pathways that will increase the motivation to engage in physical activity and exercise. Findings can be used to design and validate theory-driven health promotion interventions as an employment strategy for people with chronic musculoskeletal pain receiving vocational rehabilitation services.


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