Situational Interest: Do We Measure States? Applying Latent-State-Trait Analysis to Interest Theory

• In Event: Poster Session 12
  In Poster Session: Motivation in Education SIG Poster Session 1

Abstract

Interest theory fundamentally differentiates between trait interest and state interest. A core property of state interest or situational interest concerns its situation-specificity. Since self-report instruments are widely used to assess situational interest (SI), a major question is whether situation-specific influences are indeed reflected in self-reported SI. The present study applies a latent-state-trait theory approach to separate situation-specific from time-invariant components of repeated SI measurements. Data were obtained from 327 high school students who participated in a problem-based learning project comprising various learning activities. They completed a two-dimensional measure of SI repeatedly at six critical occasions during the project. Results indicate that both situation-specific and time-invariant sources of influence explain about 50% of variance in SI.

Authors

• Maximilian Knogler, Technische Universität München

• Judith Harackiewicz, University of Wisconsin

• Andreas Gegenfurtner, Maastricht University

• Doris Lewalter, Technical University of Munich