DEVELOPING AND VALIDATING A LEARNING MOTIVATION SCALE FOR ENGINEERING STUDENTS IN MATHEMATICAL MODELING-ORIENTED CALCULUS INSTRUCTION

DEVELOPING AND VALIDATING A LEARNING MOTIVATION SCALE FOR ENGINEERING STUDENTS IN MATHEMATICAL MODELING-ORIENTED CALCULUS INSTRUCTION

Hoa Anh Tuong hatuong@sgu.edu.vn Saigon University 273 An Duong Vuong street, Cho Quan ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Le Luong Vuong* leluongvuong@iuh.edu.vn Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City 12 Nguyen Van Bao street, Hanh Thong ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Le Luong Vuong* nguyenhuuhau@hdu.edu.vn Hong Duc University 565 Quang Trung street, Hac Thanh ward, Thanh Hoa province, Vietnam
Summary: 
This study aimed to develop and validate a learning motivation scale for Engineering students in the context of mathematical modeling oriented Calculus instruction. Grounded in expectancy–value theory, the initial instrument comprised 30 observed variables across four dimensions: Task value, self-efficacy, learning interest, and learning engagement. Data collected from 180 engineering students was analyzed using Cronbach’s Alpha and Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). The results indicated that after removing two items that did not meet the reliability criteria, the final scale consisted of 28 items with satisfactory reliability and a clear four-factor structure, accounting for 69.05% of the total variance. The findings also expresse positive relationships between task value, self-efficacy, learning interest, and learning engagement. The study contributes an empirically validated instrument for assessing students’ learning motivation in mathematical modeling oriented instruction and provides practical implications for designing instructional activities in engineering education. Future studies may apply Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to validate the scale across broader educational contexts further.
Keywords: 
Learning motivation
scale validation
mathematical modeling
Calculus instruction
engineering education.
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