Measuring Motivation in Preschool Children: Validation of the Russian Version of the Child Behaviour Motivation Scale

Abstract

The aim of this study was to validate of the Russian version of the Child Behaviour Motivation Scale (CBeMO). The tool is designed to assess learning motivation in preschool and primary school children. Fifty-nine educators participated in the study and completed the CBeMO scales individually for each child in the older groups with whom they had worked for at least 4 months. The total sample consisted of 754 children aged 5-6 years. An internal consistency analysis of the scales indicated a high level of unidimensionality across all scales of the instrument (“Task Orientation”, “Task Avoidance”, and “Social Orientation”). Confirmatory analysis confirmed the consistency of the empirical data with the theoretical model of the questionnaire. The actual structure of the data obtained on the Russian sample, as determined by factor analysis, except for one item, is identical to the original configuration of the scales. Therefore, no additional procedures are required to improve the Russian version of the questionnaire and no measures of cultural adaptation are required for the further use of the Russian version of the questionnaire. In addition to the assessment of psychometric properties, an analysis was carried out to determine the role of age, gender, intelligence and language environment in children's learning motivation. The article presents the results of the analysis, suggestions for their interpretation, and promising directions for further research.