Table 3

Motivational constructs from the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI), sample items and psychometric properties (N = 93). (Figures above refer to the virtual microscopy condition and figures below to ordinary instruction.)

Construct

Example item

Number of items

Cronbach

Alpha

Interest/enjoyment

“I would describe this instructional intervention (W) /the microscopic demonstrations (N) as very interesting.”

7/7 (all original IMI items)

0.85

0.90

Perceived competence

“I think I was pretty good at W/N.”

6/6 plus one additional item

0.84

0.90

Perceived effort

“I put a lot of effort into W/N.”

5/5 (all original items)

0.82

0.86

Pressure/tension

“I felt very tense while doing W/N.”

5/5 (all original IMI items)

0.74

0.83

Perceived choice

“I did W/N because I had to.” (reversed)

5/7 IMI items

0.76

0.90

Value/usefulness

“I think doing W/N was useful for my learning.”

7/7 IMI items plus one additional item

0.86

0.90

Helle et al. Diagnostic Pathology 2011 6(Suppl 1):S8   doi:10.1186/1746-1596-6-S1-S8