An IRT Analysis of Motive Questionnaires: The Unified Motive Scales

Schönbrodt, Felix D. and Gerstenberg, Friederike X. R. (18. February 2012): An IRT Analysis of Motive Questionnaires: The Unified Motive Scales. In: Journal of Personality, Vol. 46, No. 6: pp. 725-742

Abstract

Multiple inventories claiming to assess the same explicit motive (achievement, power, or affiliation) show only mediocre convergent validity. In three studies (N = 1685) the structure, nomological net, and content coverage of multiple existing motive scales was investigated with exploratory factor analyses. The analyses revealed four approach factors (achievement, power, affiliation, and intimacy) and a general avoidance factor with a facet structure. New scales (the Unified Motive Scales; UMS) were developed using IRT, reflecting these underlying dimensions. In comparison to existing questionnaires, the UMS have the highest measurement precision and provide short (6-item) and ultra-short (3-item) scales. In a fourth study (N = 96), the UMS demonstrated incremental validity over existing motive scales with respect to several outcome criteria.

• Item Type: Journal article
• Form of publication: Postprint
• Keywords: structure of explicit motives; questionnaire; item response theory; short scales
• Faculties: Psychology and Education Science; Psychology and Education Science > Department Psychology > General and Experimental Psychology
• Subjects: 100 Philosophy and Psychology > 100 Philosophy; 100 Philosophy and Psychology > 150 Psychology
• Language: English