Speaker: Dr. Jessica Flake, York University
Department of Psychology

Title: Measuring Achievement Motivation: A Methodological and Substantive Synergy

Abstract: Theory informs measurement and measurement informs theory. Because theory is the foundation of any measurement tool, a deep substantive understanding is necessary to adequately capture a construct. Further, measurement provides a concrete operationalization of any given theory, thus it is integral to forming conclusions. My program of research lies at the heart of this process. I specialize in addressing the substantive and methodological challenges that arise when measuring and understanding the role of motivation in student success. In this talk I will provide an overview of my two, complementary research trajectories. The first involves substantive issues surrounding expectancy-value models of achievement motivation. My work has focused on a maladaptive motivation component in this model, psychological cost. I will discuss how a mixed-methods scale development for psychological cost contributed to theory and resulted in a deeper understanding of student success. In my second research trajectory I focus on methodological challenges that arise when attempting to measure student motivation on a large scale. I will overview two studies I have conducted in this area. First I will present methodologies for modeling student-teacher rating incongruence of student motivation. Then I will discuss methodologies for estimating measurement models and detecting measurement non-invariance (i.e., differential item functioning) across many groups and present results of a simulation study. I will close with a description of some of my on-going research in these areas.