A Psychometric Analysis of the Patterns of Adapted Learning Scales (PALS) with a Group Psychotherapy Patient Sample: A Measure of Motivation

Abstract

ABSTRACT Previous research has examined the role of clients’ goal orientation, or the motives one uses to achieve specific tasks or goals in individual therapy highlighting the importance of clients’ goal orientation within a therapeutic context. Constructing and validating a measure of clients’ achievement goal orientation in group psychotherapy is needed to allow for additional methodologically sound research to examine the role of achievement goal orientation in the process and outcome of group psychotherapy. Data from 99 adult group members across 23 interpersonal process groups were used to investigate the psychometric properties of the Patterns of Adapted Learning Scales—Group Psychotherapy Version (PALS-GP), including internal reliability, structural validity, and concurrent and criterion-related validity. The PALS-GP scores revealed an overall good internal consistency (α = .76–.86) and yielded a robust three-factor structure. Evidence of concurrent and predictive validity was also demonstrated with a measure of group alliance and client improvement, respectively. The PALS-GP appears to be a promising instrument for measuring goal orientation with a clinical population participating in group therapy.