Perceptions of interest: A lens model analysis

This study tested recent German theories of the nature of human interest, i n which it is hypothesised that individual interest is composed of cognitiv e, emotional, and value components. Using an idiographic design based on re presentative sampling of a classroom ecology; 10 judges rated 108 student p rofiles for the level of actualised interest. The profiles were obtained fr om 27 random experience samples using 17 cues: level of skill, knowledge, s uccess, familiarity, confidence, concentration, understanding, satisfaction , happiness, excitement, effort, enthusiasm, enjoyment, desire, determinati on, importance, and extent of freedom. The 22 profiles were presented in to ur blocks, and judges were reasonably reliable in their 27 judgements with a median inter-trial correlation of 0.83 and a coefficient alpha for the 17 ratings of 0.95. A lens model analysis was used to decompose judgements ac ross repeated situations in order to determine the key components of actual ised interest. Lens model parameters such as R squared ranged from 0.94 to 0.55, and cognitive consistency ranged from 0.96 to 0.74. Based on the rela tive beta weights, the most important indicators of interest were ratings o f effort, happiness, desire, familiarity, enthusiasm, importance, and enjoy ment. Results supported the emotionality and value components of actualised interest but not the knowledge emphasis in German theories.