Adaptation and validation of the Work Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivation Scale (WEIMS) in pharmacy students based on Self-Determination Theory (SDT).

BACKGROUND

Motivation can significantly impact students' academic decisions and perseverance. Therefore, assessing this construct is an essential step for evaluating the educational environment's support for higher qualities of motivation and implementing targeted educational interventions. In this research, we sought to culturally adapt and validate the Work Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivation Scale, a tool based on the Self-Determination Theory. The study was carried out within the context of pharmacy education in Iran, during the 2022-2023 academic year.

METHODS

In the first step, the questionnaire was culturally adapted using the 5-step framework developed by the American Association of Orthopedics Surgeons. The content validity was then evaluated by thirteen experts in the field of motivation. The tool underwent cognitive interviews with pharmacy students for face validity, and the finalized version was distributed online to 165 pharmacy students from the Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The data were analyzed using SPSS 26 and SmartPLS 4 packages to perform exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Cronbach's alpha along with composite reliability, were employed to measure the reliability of the adapted tool.

RESULTS

The content validity ratio was equal to or greater than 0.54, indicating the retention of all items. However, two items had an item-content validity index within the range of 0.7 to 0.79, suggesting that they be revised. Two additional items were also amended during the cognitive interviews. The confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated good factor loadings exceeding 0.4, with Cronbach's alpha and composite reliability values varying between 0.76 and 0.89, and favorable convergent and discriminant validity.

CONCLUSION

These findings support the good validity evidence and applicability of the adapted Farsi version of the Work Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivation Scale in the pharmacy educational context.