Using Nationally Representative Data Sets to Study Students' Motivation: Opportunities and Challenges

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

Abstract

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) collects a vast amount of data from students, parents, teachers, and schools. Yet these NCES datasets have seldom been used to study students’ motivation despite the availability of motivation-related variables. Such data presents a wealth of opportunity for researchers interested in students’ motivation due to the fact they are nationally representative and often longitudinal. The availability of student-linked parent, teacher, and school-level data also provides a rich context within which research questions can be examined. This paper offers some examples of the theoretical alignment and psychometric properties of some of these items and scales. Other available items are discussed, along with several of the opportunities and challenges associated with using NCES data.

Author

• Lauren Elizabeth Musu-Gillette, National Center for Education Statistics