Title: Using large-scale educational data to test motivation theories: a synthesis of findings from Swedish studies on test-taking motivation

Authors: Hanna Eklöf; Eva Knekta

Addresses: Department of Applied Educational Science, Umeå University, Umeå 901 87, Sweden ' Department of Applied Educational Science, Umeå University, Umeå 901 87, Sweden

Abstract: With the purpose of mapping the test-taking motivation construct, theoretically and empirically, the current paper presents a synthesis of findings from test-taking motivation studies performed in various large-scale educational assessment settings. Self-report scales measuring reported motivation to spend effort on the test, and in some studies also other aspects of expectancy and value, have been administered to Swedish samples taking tests such as the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study - Advanced (TIMSS), the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and the Swedish National Tests. Taken together, results indicate that tests with lower stakes are associated with a lower level of reported test-taking motivation, that the expectancy-value theory seems a viable framework for interpreting the test-taking motivation construct, and that reported level of motivation consistently seems to have a significant effect on test performance, also when modelled together with other motivational and background variables.

Keywords: effort; expectancy-value theory; national tests; PISA; research synthesis; structural equation modelling; test performance; test-taking motivation; TIMSS.

DOI: 10.1504/IJQRE.2017.086499

International Journal of Quantitative Research in Education, 2017 Vol.4 No.1/2, pp.52 - 71

Received: 11 Oct 2016
Accepted: 25 Dec 2016
Published online: 10 Sep 2017 *