Abstract:
Objective: To develop a Short Form of Achievement Motive Scale (AMS-SF) with adequate reliability and validity, to test the gender measurement invariance and the latent factor mean of AMS-SF. Methods: Totally 823 students in Grades 7 - 8 from Shenzhen are selected and are grouped into two parallel samples a and b. Item analysis, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) are used to interactively confirm the structure of the scale, Multi-group confirmatory factor analyses are used to test the gender measurement invariance and the latent factor mean of AMS-SF. Results: Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of motive to succeed and motive to avoid failure of AMS-SF are 0.81, 0.85, and the item discrimination ranges from 0.36 to 0.62; AMS-SF provides an adequate fit to the theoretically intended 2-factor model, and the factor loadings range from 0.53 to 0.83; Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis of AMS-SF reveals that the full measurement and the structure invariance across boy-girl of middle school students are supported by the date, the latent factor mean comparison suggests that there were significant differences between the two groups. Conclusion: AMS-SF indicates high levels of reliability and validity, and the full measurement and the structure invariance of AMS-SF existed in the middle school students in Shenzhen, it is appropriate for assessing middle school students’ general achievement motivation.