Acessibilidade / Reportar erro

Motivational orientations of high school students to Physics: psychometric considerations

Abstract

This study investigated motivational orientations of high school students related to Physics and sought to contribute to the deepening of the discussion about the proposition and validation of instruments of measures of psychological variables. The Motivation Scale: Didactic Activities of Physics (EMADF) was used to evaluate 1155 students. An exploratory factorial analysis was carried out followed by descriptive statistical analysis. Five factors explaining 55.46% of the total data variance were found. Results show a self-determined regulation, with students mostly intrinsically and extrinsically motivated by identified regulation, thus revealing an autonomous or self-determined motivation. These results reveal a highly favorable pattern, as it is strongly associated with effort, attention, persistence, proactivity and more positive emotions.

Keywords:
Motivational orientations; Physics teaching; Validation of psychometric scale

Sociedade Brasileira de Física Caixa Postal 66328, 05389-970 São Paulo SP - Brazil - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
E-mail: marcio@sbfisica.org.br