Validation and Adaptation of Questionnaires on Interest, Effort, Progression and Learning Support in Chilean Adolescents

Abstract

In order to understand interest, effort and progress in learning as dispositional and contextual variables in the field of education, the activities and strategies that encourage student motivation have been continuously sought, given that they have a fundamental role in sustainability to promote the improvement of their citizenship skills and the achievement of SDGs 3 (health and well-being) and 4 (quality education) set by the UN. The objective of this study is to validate and adapt the Interest, Effort and Progress in Learning (IEPA) and contextual Student Assistance (AYES) questionnaires in the Chilean adolescent population and thus support the sustainable development SDGs. For this purpose, they were applied to a sample in two phases, first with 339 schoolchildren, and secondly, replicated with 3172 students. For their analysis, a data matrix was constructed with distribution and dispersion tests (mean, standard deviation, skewness, kurtosis and range) using the IBM SPSS.27 statistical program. Subsequently, the dimensionality of the scale was studied by applying an exploratory factor analysis with the FACTOR program, version 11, updated in 2021. Finally, a confirmatory factor analysis was performed with the M-PLUS.7.3 program. It is concluded that the instruments provide a method that is valid, reliable, simple to apply and adapted to adolescents, allowing the evaluation of three dispositional variables in students: interest, effort and progression in learning. These data indicate that they have adequate psychometric properties, which allows for a valid and reliable evaluation to contribute to the sustainability of permanent improvement in education.