title: Measuring Strength of Motivation for Medical School.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Students vary in their strength of motivation to start and pursue medical training. This study was conducted to investigate the psychometric properties of a Strength of Motivation for Medical School (SMMS) questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  The questionnaire was designed using an iterative method. The instrument was applied to medical students (N= 296) at the start of medical school and to potential applicants (N= 147). The stability of the concept over a six month's time and associations with other motivation measures were studied. A separate group of potential applicants and their parents (N= 169) were asked to validate the items of the questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cronbach's alpha reliability of .79 was found. Test-retest reliability of SMMS-scores with a six months interval was .71. Little to no association with specific dimensions of motivation was found, except for a negative correlation with 'ambivalence towards studying'. SMMS-scores were associated with potential applicants' plans to apply for medical school (Spearman's rho .65) and differentially with potential applicants' and their parents' judgements of item validities (.13 to .57).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The SMMS-questionnaire appears to be a reliable and valid instrument to measure strength of motivation for medical training in students who have just entered medical school. It may be used to evaluate the validity of selection procedures and to identify associated variables that could be used in selection procedures.
authors.affiliation: a University Medical Center Utrecht, School of Medical Sciences.|c deceased.
authors.forename: Marja G H
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Nieuwhof
authors.affiliation: a University Medical Center Utrecht, School of Medical Sciences.
authors.forename: Olle
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: ThJ Ten Cate
authors.affiliation: a University Medical Center Utrecht, School of Medical Sciences.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Oosterveld
authors.affiliation: b VU University Medical Center Amsterdam , Department of Public and Occupational health .
authors.forename: Marc B M
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Soethout