The purpose of this work was to analyze features of students' motivation in relation to academic factors after one year of medical studies, testing out a version of the Academic Motivation Scale (AMS). The AMS was administered to 299 subjects of both sexes and re-administered to a 25% sample one year later. Measures of learning perceptions and achievement representing motivational factors were also obtained. Statistical procedures were done to describe the internal and external validity, including correlation analysis between the AMS components and the motivational measures. The findings showed satisfactory levels of internal consistency, moderate temporal stability and consistent inter-correlation matrix. The profile of responses revealed a predominance of autonomous motivation and a gender effect. The relationships of the AMS components with the motivational antecedents and consequences revealed a spectrum of motivation compatible with individual and contextual influences. The results support the validity of the AMS and its usefulness in the study of academic motivation.
motivation; medical students; learning and performance; Academic Motivation Scale
