The Four-Phase Model of Interest Development: Elaboration of a Measurement Instrument

• In Event: Current Approaches to Interest Measurement

Abstract

Based on the theory of Hidi & Renninger (2006), we developed a 40-item survey that was evaluated by two independent psychology teachers. The best 20 items were then administered to 98 students. Exploratory factor analyses indicate four uni-dimensional scales, mapping onto the four phases of interest development. CFA substantiates these scales. The survey has been used four times during a pedagogical intervention in which numerical tools were employed to stimulate interest in French courses. Results indicate that this instrument distinguishes the developmental pattern of interest, can inform evaluation of interest in pedagogical interventions, and provides confirmation of the conceptual structure of interest.

Author

• Isabelle Cabot, Cégep Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu