Development of a New Language Learning Motivation Scale for Medical Students

Abstract

This study aims to develop a scale determining the extrinsic, integrative, and intrinsic factors that motivate medical students learning English as a foreign language in an ESP context. Derived from Gardner and Lambert’s socio-educational model (1972) and Deci and Ryan’s self-determination theory (1985), the study is based on the motivational framework of Noels et al. (2000) which categorizes the three main motives as intrinsic, instrumental and integrative. With the participation of 320 medical students, a 14-item scale was developed with satisfactory internal consistency. Four different methods were used to create the motivation scale. First, a focus group interview was conducted with the participation of randomly selected medical students, and 22 items were determined as a result of the content analysis and were sent to five medical doctors for their opinions, and 6 items were removed from the pool upon their feedback. Next, the literature was reviewed and comparisons were made between existing scales. Finally, based on the opinions of 3 English for Specific Purposes (ESP) experts from the field, the concept of extrinsic motivation was used instead of instrumental motivation, and a 16-item five-point Likert type scale was decided. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) statistical procedures were also utilized. Principal Components Factor Analysis (PCA) was applied to reveal the construct validity of the motivation scale, and Direct Oblimin with Kaiser Normalization method was applied as the rotation method. In order to calculate the adequacy of the sample, the Kaiser-Mayer-Olkin (KMO) coefficient was calculated. Finally, as a result of Bartlett sphericity tests to detect correlations between the items, it was determined that the norm values were provided for all statistical processes for the 3-factor structure explaining 64.62% of the total variance. Finally, this study presents a new data collection tool that is statistically valid and reliable to measure medical students’ motivational factors.