Stages of Learning Motivation: Development and Validation of a Measure1

Prochaska and colleagues’(e.g., Prochaska, DiClemente, & Norcross, 1992) stages‐of‐change theory was employed in the current study to reconceptualize the assessment of motivation to learn. We used the stages‐of‐change framework to develop and test a multidimensional measure of learning motivation using 3 independent samples. The pattern of relationships among the learning stages and learning criteria provided strong support for the appropriateness of using a stage‐based perspective to frame learning motivation. In addition, hierarchical regression analysis showed that the Stages of Learning Motivation Inventory (SOLMI) explained variance in the criteria (e.g., exam average, class satisfaction) beyond controls and a commonly used measure of learning motivation. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.     

Report of the ACA Ethics Committee: 2002–2003

This report summarizes the activities of the American Counseling Association (ACA) Ethics Committee during the period of July 1, 2002, through June 30, 2003. Summary data of the complaints filed and the inquiries received are presented.     

The interaction of subjectivization and concept placement in the processing of cleft sentences

In four experiments the interaction of grammatical subjectivization of a concept and placing a concept at the head of a cleft sentence has been studied. It has been assumed that on the speaker's part both features are the result of attention focusing and in the case of the listener serve to focus his attention. Further it has been assumed that the speaker might be expected to avoid sentences in which the “marked-off” concept is not at the same time subjectized and that the listener should be irritated by, and rate negatively, sentences with two competing attentional foci. The four experiments described in this paper confirmed these predictions.     

Do overall dimension ratings from assessment centres show external construct-related validity?

ABSTRACT

There have been repeated calls for an external construct validation approach to advance our understanding of the construct-related validity of assessment centre dimension ratings beyond existing internal construct-related validity findings. Following an external construct validation approach, we examined whether linking assessment centre overall dimension ratings to ratings of the same dimensions that stem from sources external to the assessment centre provides evidence for construct-related validity of assessment centre ratings. We used data from one laboratory assessment centre sample and two field samples. External ratings of the same dimensions stemmed from assessees, assessees’ supervisors, and customers. Results converged across all three samples and showed that different dimension-same source correlations within the assessment centres were larger than same dimension-different source correlations. Moreover, confirmatory factor analyses revealed source factors but no dimension factors in the latent factor structure of overall dimension ratings from the assessment centre and from external sources. Hence, consistent results across the three samples provide no support that assessment centre overall dimension ratings and ratings of the same dimensions from other sources can be attributed to dimension factors. This questions arguments that assessment centre overall dimension ratings should have construct-related validity.