A Canadian Investigation of the Psychometric Properties of the Student Motivation and Learning Strategies Inventory

Abstract

The psychometric properties of the Student Motivation and Learning Strategies Inventory (SMALSI) were examined using a sample of 404 Grade 6 students from an urban Canadian school system. Students completed the SMALSI and school factors included final school grades, attendance records, and language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies results from Provincial Achievement Tests (PATs). Confirmatory factor analysis of SMALSI demonstrated less than adequate fit for each individual SMALSI factor though with some covariance of similar items, the model fit approached acceptable limits for most factors. Results generally confirmed that the SMALSI subscales were significantly related to all of the achievement variables including PAT results and final school grades. Structural equation modeling demonstrated that writing and research skills, test-taking skills, low motivation, and test anxiety all contributed to the prediction of PAT results. Test anxiety was a significant predictor of achievement across all subject areas. Canadian Grade 6 students demonstrated lower motivation, less test anxiety, and fewer attention problems but were otherwise comparable with the U.S. sample. Results provide convergent evidence supporting the psychometric properties of the SMALSI with a Canadian sample; however, there is some room to improve the overall model fit in subsequent revisions of this measure.