SIM05380 Confirmatory Factor Analyses and Tests of Factorial Invariance on the SMOSA

The SMOSA (Self Motivational Orientations Scale for Adolescents) is a newly developed measure assessing adolescent motivation that incorporates both motivational goals and self-perceptions. The a-priori factor structure consisted of twelve factors; eight motivational goals and four self-perceptions. The psychometric qualities of the SMOSA underwent systematic evaluation through both Confirmatory Factor Analyses on the a-priori factor structure and tests of factorial invariance. Invariance tests evaluated whether factor loadings, factor covariances and the factor structure of the SMOSA supported the a-priori model on the responses of adolescents to the SMOSA across grades (7, 8 and 9) and gender. Using a sample of grade 7 (725), grade 8 (688), grade 9 (718) and males (1034) and females (1097) were used in four stages of progressive constraint to test the a priori factor structure. The results of this research support the newly developed SMOSA’s generalisability and psychometric soundness with the cross-validation of responses for males and females and also across the three grades on this adolescent population.