A latent state-trait analysis of current achievement motivation across different tasks of cognitive ability
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In: European Journal of Psychological Assessment, Vol. 33, No. 5, 09.2017, p. 318-327.
Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - A latent state-trait analysis of current achievement motivation across different tasks of cognitive ability
AU - Freund, Philipp Alexander
AU - Jaensch, Vanessa
AU - Preckel, Franzis
PY - 2017/9
Y1 - 2017/9
N2 - The current study investigates the behavior of task-specific, current achievement motivation (CAM: interest in the task, probability of success, perceived challenge, and fear of failure) across a variety of reasoning tasks featuring verbal, numerical, and figural content. CAM is conceptualized as a state-like variable, and in order to assess the relative stability of the four CAM variables across different tasks, latent state trait analyses are conducted. The major findings indicate that the degree of challenge a test taker experiences and the fear of failing a given task appear to be relatively stable regardless of the specific task utilized, whereas interest and probability of success are more directly influenced by task-specific characteristics and demands. Furthermore, task performance is related to task-specific interest and probability of success. We discuss the implications and benefits of these results with regard to the use of cognitive ability tests in general. Importantly, taking motivational differences between test takers into account appears to offer valuable information which helps to explain differences in task performance.
AB - The current study investigates the behavior of task-specific, current achievement motivation (CAM: interest in the task, probability of success, perceived challenge, and fear of failure) across a variety of reasoning tasks featuring verbal, numerical, and figural content. CAM is conceptualized as a state-like variable, and in order to assess the relative stability of the four CAM variables across different tasks, latent state trait analyses are conducted. The major findings indicate that the degree of challenge a test taker experiences and the fear of failing a given task appear to be relatively stable regardless of the specific task utilized, whereas interest and probability of success are more directly influenced by task-specific characteristics and demands. Furthermore, task performance is related to task-specific interest and probability of success. We discuss the implications and benefits of these results with regard to the use of cognitive ability tests in general. Importantly, taking motivational differences between test takers into account appears to offer valuable information which helps to explain differences in task performance.
KW - Psychology
KW - Cognitive ability
KW - current achievement motivation
KW - Latent state trait analysis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85033579200&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1027/1015-5759/a000289
DO - 10.1027/1015-5759/a000289
M3 - Journal articles
VL - 33
SP - 318
EP - 327
JO - European Journal of Psychological Assessment
JF - European Journal of Psychological Assessment
SN - 1015-5759
IS - 5
ER -