Factor Structure of the Motivation Assessment Scale for Persons with Mental Retardation

Abstract

The rating scale used to assess the motivators of maladaptive behaviors in persons with mental retardation was the Motivation Assessment Scale. In the current study, we validated the factor structure of the scale on a sample of 118 subjects with predominately severe or profound mental retardation. They exhibited deviant behaviors such as self-injurious and tantrum behavior, aggression, and passivity. The results of the factor analysis with varimax rotation validated the assumptions of the developers of the scale that the motivators could be grouped into sensory, escape, attention, and tangible reinforcers. These four subscales are easily interpretable and should continue to provide valuable information.

Interrater Reliability of the Motivation Assessment Scale: Another, Closer Look

“…For example, a revision of the MAS may require clarification of the initial directions or some items, but claims of clinical nonutility seem premature (Bihm, Kienlen, Ness, and Poindexter, 1991;Zarcone et al, 1991). In addition, future research should concentrate on how deviations from prescribed administration procedures (e.g., setting selection, rater training, Durand & Crimmins, 1992) affect the psychometric properties of the MAS.…”

The Motivation of Stereotypic and Repetitive Behavior: Examination of Construct Validity of the Motivation Assessment Scale

“…With data from 118 institution-dwelling adults with intellectual disability, Bihm et al (1991) supported the four subscales except that one proposed attention item loaded more strongly on the sensory subscale and one item from the escape subscale loaded most strongly on the attention subscale. And while Singh et al (1993) also confirmed Durand and Crimmins (1988b) findings with 60 adolescents and adults who resided in institutions, they found that neither 3-, 4-, nor 5-factor structures were meaningful with data from 96 adolescent students with intellectual disability who attended school.…”

“…The purpose of this investigation was to re-examine evidence for construct validity of the MAS in the hopes of explaining inconsistencies found in earlier studies that attempted to validate the 4-factor structure (Bihm et al 1991;Duker and Sigafoos 1998;Singh et al 1993). Using data from children with intellectual disability, some of whom were diagnosed with autism, we explored use of the MAS to explain motivations for stereotyped, repetitive behaviors.…”

“…While it was developed to assess the motivation of self-injurious behaviors, its authors and others have promoted its use for assessment of problem behaviors in general. Researchers have used the MAS to examine a wide range of repetitive, disruptive and aggressive behaviors in other studies (Bihm et al 1991;Duker and Sigafoos 1998;Singh et al 1993).…”

“…Three groups of researchers (Bihm et al 1991;Duker and Sigafoos 1998;Singh et al 1993) have subsequently investigated the 4-factor structure of the MAS and examined the items loading on each factor structure (Singh et al 1993). The results have varied.…”