QCM: A Questionnaire to assess current motivation in learning situations

The Questionnaire on Current Motivation (QCM) uses 18 items to measure four motivational factors in either field or laboratory learning and achievemen t situations: anxiety, probability of success, interest, and challenge. Bot h German and American versions had satisfactory reliabilities as measured i n 6 samples (N = 944). Several studies have supported the questionnaire's v alidity by showing that initial motivational factors were related to subseq uent learning behaviors and outcomes. Here we report two experiments that s how that the QCM factors challenge and interest affect performance, but tha t these effects can depend on the task and the number of opportunities to l earn. Theory predicted the strongest relationships of performance with chal lenge and interest when: (1) learning was understanding-oriented rather tha n fact-oriented, (2) learners reach the solution in many trials rather than few. These predictions were confirmed. For studies in which similar learni ng conditions exist, the use of the QCM is recommended to statistically con trol for motivational effects.