The validation crisis in the L2 motivational self system tradition

Abstract

Concerns have recently been raised about the validity of scales used in the L2 motivational self system tradition, particularly in relation to sufficient discriminant validity among some of its scales. These concerns highlight the need to systematically examine the validity of scales used in this tradition. In this study, we therefore compiled a list of 18 scales in widespread use and administered them to Korean learners of English (N = 384). Testing the factorial structure of these scales using multiple exploratory and confirmatory factor-analytic criteria revealed severe discriminant validity issues. For example, the ideal L2 self was not discriminant from linguistic self-confidence, suggesting that participant responses to such ideal L2 self items is not driven by actual–ideal discrepancies as previously presumed but more likely by self-efficacy beliefs. We discuss these results in the context of the need to encourage systematic psychometric validation research in the language motivation field.

A Survey of the Literature About the L2 Motivational Self System Theory

“…Surprisingly, the initial findings did not replicate, and an alternate model that questioned the way intended effort has traditionally been modeled in L2MSS research received support. Given the importance of vision and intended effort in the literature, it is clear that important L2MSS research findings should be verified and replicated rather than assumed to be replicable by default (Al-Hoorie and colleagues for empirical findings that highlight validity issues in the field [63] ). Replication is an open research technique that should be included in the agenda of the field of L2MSS, as the field of applied linguistics as a whole is moving toward greater openness and transparency.…”