Adapting the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire for a Writing and Communication Program

Abstract

Integrating educational assessment tools such as the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ) into university classrooms can help students and faculty gain insight into areas of strength and challenge for students. The present study adapted and integrated the MSLQ into a set of first-year communication courses for Faculty of Arts students at the University of Waterloo. This adaptation allowed us to better situate the scale within the writing and communication course context. Through exploratory and confirmatory analysis, a shortened questionnaire (MSLQ-AF) with 6 subscales (motivation, academic self-confidence, performance anxiety, critical thinking, planning for optimal learning, and peer learning) was created. MSLQ-AF proved to have stable factor structure, adequate and stable internal consistency, and construct validity (correlation with grades), when assessed across four samples spanning four university terms. We discuss the role of this new scale in helping students transition into university.