Scale Description
This scale assesses 7 types of constructs: intrinsic motivation towards knowledge, accomplishments, and stimulation, as well as external, introjected and identified regulations, and finally amotivation. It contains 28 items (4 items per subscale) assessed on a 7-point scale.
References Vallerand, R.J., Blais, M.R., Brière, N.M., & Pelletier, L.G. (19). Construction et
validation de l'Échelle de Motivation en Éducation (EME). Revue canadienne des sciences du comportement, 21, 323-349.
ACADEMIC MOTIVATION SCALE (AMS-C 28)
COLLEGE VERSION
Robert J. Vallerand, Luc G. Pelletier, Marc R. Blais, Nathalie M. Brière, Caroline B. Senécal, Évelyne F. Vallières, 1992-1993 Educational and Psychological Measurement, vols. 52 and 53
WHY DO YOU GO TO COLLEGE ?
Using the scale below, indicate to what extent each of the following items presently corresponds to one of the reasons why you go to college. Does not
correspondCorrespondsCorresponds Corresponds Corresponds
at all a little moderately a lot exactly
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
WHY DO YOU GO TO COLLEGE ?
1. Because with only a high-school degree I would not
find a high-paying job later on. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
2. Because I experience pleasure and satisfaction
while learning new things. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
3. Because I think that a college education will help me
better prepare for the career I have chosen. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
4. For the intense feelings I experience when I am
communicating my own ideas to others. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
5. Honestly, I don't know; I really feel that I am wasting
my time in school. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
6. For the pleasure I experience while surpassing
myself in my studies. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
7. To prove to myself that I am capable of completing my
college degree. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8. In order to obtain a more prestigious job later on. 1 2 3 4 5 6
7
9. For the pleasure I experience when I discover
new things never seen before. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
10. Because eventually it will enable me to enter the
job market in a field that I like. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
11. For the pleasure that I experience when I read
interesting authors. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
12. I once had good reasons for going to college;
however, now I wonder whether I should continue. 1 2 3 4 5 6
7
13. For the pleasure that I experience while I am surpassing
myself in one of my personal accomplishments. 7
1 2 3 4 5 6
14. Because of the fact that when I succeed in college
I feel important. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
15. Because I want to have \"the good life\" later on. 1 2 3 4 5 6
7
16. For the pleasure that I experience in broadening my
knowledge about subjects which appeal to me. 1 2 3 4 5 6
7
17. Because this will help me make a better choice
regarding my career orientation. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
18. For the pleasure that I experience when I feel completely
absorbed by what certain authors have written. 1 2 3 4 5 6
7
19. I can't see why I go to college and frankly,
I couldn't care less. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
20. For the satisfaction I feel when I am in the process of
accomplishing difficult academic activities. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
21. To show myself that I am an intelligent person. 1 2 3 4 5 6
7
22. In order to have a better salary later on. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
23. Because my studies allow me to continue to learn about
many things that interest me. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
24. Because I believe that a few additional years of
education will improve my competence as a worker. 1 2 3 4 5 6
7
25. For the \"high\" feeling that I experience while reading
about various interesting subjects. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
26. I don't know; I can't understand what I am
doing in school. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
27. Because college allows me to experience a
personal satisfaction in my quest for excellence
in my studies. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
28. Because I want to show myself that I can succeed
in my studies. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
© Robert J. Vallerand, Luc G. Pelletier, Marc R. Blais, Nathalie M. Brière, Caroline B. Senécal, Évelyne F. Vallières, 1992
KEY FOR AMS-28
# 2, 9, 16, 23 Intrinsic motivation - to know
# 6, 13, 20, 27 Intrinsic motivation - toward accomplishment
# 4, 11, 18, 25 Intrinsic motivation - to experience stimulation
# 3, 10, 17, 24 Extrinsic motivation - identified
# 7, 14, 21, 28 Extrinsic motivation - introjected
# 1, 8, 15, 22 Extrinsic motivation - external regulation
# 5, 12, 19, 26 Amotivation
Note: To use this scale you require only to mention the complete reference data.
Thank you for your interest.
Good luck in your research.
AMS (Table 1) has 28 items grouped into 7 subscales, i.e. 4 items each, scored on a
Likert scale of 1–7. An average of the total scores on each subscale is taken as the score.
The subscales are ‘‘Intrinsic Motivation to know’’, ‘‘Intrinsic Motivation towards accom-
plishment’’ and ‘‘Intrinsic Motivation to experience stimulation’’, ‘‘Extrinsic Motivation-
Identified Regulation’’, ‘‘Extrinsic Motivation-Introjected Regulation’’, ‘‘Extrinsic
Motivation-External Regulation’’ and ‘‘Amotivation’’ (Vallerand et al. 1992). Intrinsic
motivation (IM)-to-know is to study for the pleasure and satisfaction experienced while
learning. IM-towards-accomplishment is to study for the pleasure and satisfaction expe-
rienced while accomplishing things (Vallerand et al. 1992). IM-to-experience stimulation
is to study in order to experience stimulating sensations (Vallerand et al. 1992). There is no subscale available to measure EM-integrated regulation. There exists good evidence for the validity and reliability of the abovementioned construct of motivation as measured by the AMS (Vallerand et al. 1993).