Publication Date
2022
Document Type
Dissertation/Thesis
First Advisor
Tonks, Stephen M.
Degree Name
Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy)
Legacy Department
Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations (LEPF)
Abstract
Previous research on the basic psychological needs of students (from Self-Determination Theory) in the United States has largely focused on students in K-12 school systems. Additionally, no measure of the basic psychological needs satisfaction and frustration mini- theory has been validated in the United States for students at higher education institutions. The current study sought to contribute to the fields of psychometrics and Self-Determination Theory for students at one large, Midwestern university by adapting a measure of the basic psychological needs satisfaction and frustration and validating it with undergraduate students. Many adaptational changes were made to the measure, including adding twelve new items to the measure. Three hundred thirty-one undergraduate participants’ data were analyzed to understand their psychometric properties and determine model fit, establish validity, and determine reliability. Results of two exploratory factor analyses showed that the subconstructs of the measure were distinct, but hard to interpret. Model 5, a confirmatory factor analysis, showed that there was evidence of a good fitting confirmatory model with eight distinct factors. Lastly, results showed that there is evidence of convergent, discriminant, and predictive validity for the measure, named the Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction and Frustration- Higher Education. Specifying and confirming a model, with evidence for validity, further contributes to Self-Determination Theory research by providing a measure for use with university undergraduates and could serve as a basis of new studies going forward. Additionally, the best fitting model supports previous findings that the needs satisfaction and frustration items should be separated in model testing. Results of the basic psychological needs satisfaction and frustration- higher education predictive validity measures suggest that it may be important to avoid frustration of needs to prevent amotivation for a student. Lastly, the value and cost that a student views their college experience having may also be influenced by their levels of needs satisfaction and frustration, a finding that should be further investigated.
Recommended Citation
Powers, Elyzia Edward, "A Measure of Psychological Needs For Higher Education Students: A Validation Study" (2022). Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations. 7562.
https://huskiecommons.lib.niu.edu/allgraduate-thesesdissertations/7562
Extent
166 pages
Language
eng
Publisher
Northern Illinois University
Rights Statement
In Copyright
Rights Statement 2
NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.
Media Type
Text
