University Student Motivation Questionnaire:
Background to Version 2
Open-ended Question .......................................................................................................................................................................... 2
Closed Items - Final Format ................................................................................................................................................................ 3
Closed Items and Codes ...................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Closed Items - Summary of Changes .................................................................................................................................................. 6
Changes to Closed Item Wording........................................................................................................................................................ 7
Open-ended Question
An open-ended question asking respondents to identify up to three main motivations for their decision to be
a university student was added to version 2. Qualitative analysis of this data will help to determine the
extent to which the empirical items adequately capture university students' salient motivations.
What have been the main motivations for you to attend university?
Please describe up to 3 key reasons for why you’ve chosen to be a university student.
1.
2.
3.
Closed Items - Final Format
Student Motivation
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
I attend university…
because I don’t know what else to do.
to understand myself better.
to gain valuable skills for my career.
because its fun place to be.
because others expect me to get a degree.
because I genuinely want to help others.
because it’s a better alternative than working.
because I want to explore new ideas.
to enhance my job prospects.
because I enjoy the social life.
because other people have told me I should.
because I want to contribute to society.
to avoid being unemployed.
because I want to challenge myself.
in order to get the qualification.
because I enjoy the social environment.
because it would disappoint other people if I didn't.
because I want to help solve society's problems.
because it gives me something to do.
for my personal growth and development.
because it will help set up my future career.
because of the social opportunities.
it seems to be the recommended thing to do.
because I want to improve the world situation.
because I don’t have any better options.
because I love learning.
so I can get a better job.
because its a great place to develop friendships.
of social expectations from those around me.
because I want to be more useful to society.
False
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
True
7
8
7
8
7
8
7
8
7
8
7
8
7
8
7
8
7
8
7
8
7
8
7
8
7
8
7
8
7
8
7
8
7
8
7
8
7
8
7
8
7
8
7
8
7
8
7
8
7
8
7
8
7
8
7
8
7
8
7
8
Closed Items and Codes
The 30 items in the TUSMSQ version 2 are displayed in the table, along with the item numbers, variable codes (for use in data
analysis), the target factor, and the response scale.
Table. TUSMSQ Version 2 Items and Variable Codes.
No. Code
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
motiv1
motiv2
motiv3
motiv4
motiv5
motiv6
motiv7
Factor
RA
SE
QC
SO
SP
AL
RA
motiv8
SE
QC
motiv10
SO
motiv11
SP
motiv9
motiv12
motiv13
motiv14
motiv15
motiv16
motiv17
motiv18
AL
RA
SE
QC
SO
SP
AL
motiv19
RA
SE
motiv21
QC
motiv20
motiv22
motiv23
motiv24
motiv25
motiv26
SO
SP
AL
RA
SE
I attend university…
because I don’t know what else to do.
to understand myself better.
to gain valuable skills for my career.
because its fun place to be.
because others expect me to get a
degree.
because I genuinely want to help others.
because it’s a better alternative than
working.
because I want to explore new ideas.
to enhance my job prospects.
because I enjoy the social life.
because other people have told me I
should.
because I want to contribute to society.
to avoid being unemployed.
because I want to challenge myself.
in order to get the qualification.
because I enjoy the social environment.
because it would disappoint other people
if I didn't.
because I want to help solve society's
problems.
because it gives me something to do.
for my personal growth and development.
because it will help set up my future
career.
because of the social opportunities.
it seems to be the recommended thing to
do.
because I want to improve the world
situation.
because I don’t have any better options.
because I love learning.
False
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
6
6
6
6
True
7 8
7 8
7 8
7 8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1
1
1
2
2
2
3
3
3
4
4
4
5
5
5
6
6
6
7
7
7
8
8
8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
5
6
6
6
6
6
7
7
7
7
7
8
8
8
8
8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
6
6
7
7
8
8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
6
6
7
7
8
8
27
28
29
30
motiv27
motiv28
motiv29
motiv30
QC
SO
SP
AL
so I can get a better job.
because its a great place to develop
friendships.
of social expectations from those around
me.
because I want to be more useful to
society.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Closed Items - Summary of Changes
TUSMSQ1 had 6 factors, measured by 30 items. All of these factors were retained for version 2, however 8
items were reworded, as outlined in the tables below.
Factor Name
Altruism
Reject Alternatives
Factor Code
AL
RA
No. of items No. of items reworded
5
0
5
3
Qualifications & Career
Social Enjoyment
Self Exploration
Social Pressure
Overall
SE
QC
SO
SP
5
5
5
5
30
8 items reworded; 30 retained, 6 factors retained
0
1
2
2
8
Changes to Closed Item Wording
Minor changes were made to the wording of eight out of the 30 motivation items, as detailed in the Table.
These changes were made in an effort improve the reliability and validity of the target factors. The changes were informed by
examination of face validity of the items in conjunction with exploratory factor analysis of 247 cases (2004 data).
Table. Changes in university motivation item wording between version 1 and 2.
No. Factor
1
RA
2
SE
3
QC
4
SO
5
SP
6
AL
7
RA
8
SE
9
QC
10
SO
11
SP
12
AL
13
RA
14
SE
15
QC
16
SO
17
SP
18
AL
19
RA
20
SE
21
QC
22
SO
23
SP
24
AL
25
RA
26
SE
27
QC
28
SO
29
SP
30
AL
I attend university…
because I don't know what else I would do. because I don’t know what else to do.
to understand myself better.
to gain valuable skills for my career.
because its fun place to be.
because others expect me to get a degree.
because I genuinely want to help others.
to avoid working. because it’s a better alternative than working.
because I like to explore ideas. because I want to explore new ideas.
to enhance my job prospects.
because I enjoy the social life.
because other people have told me I should.
because I want to contribute to society.
to avoid being unemployed.
because I have a genuine interest in the subjects I am studying. because I want to challenge
in order to get the qualification.
because I enjoy the campus environment. Because I enjoy the social environment.
because it would disappoint other people if I didn't.
because I want to help solve society's problems.
because it gives me something to do.
for my personal growth and development.
because it will help set up my future career.
because of the social opportunities.
because its the right thing to do. it seems to be the recommended thing to do.
because I want to improve the world situation.
because it gives me time to consider my future. [because I don’t have any better options]
because I love learning.
so I can get a better job.
because its a great place to develop friendships.
because I shouldn't waste my potential. of social expectations from those around me.
because I want to be more useful to society.