Testing a multidimensional model of student motivation: A construct validation approach of the music model of motivation

The purpose of this research is to test the construct validity of the MUSIC model of motivation in the context of English Medium Instruction (EMI) in Sino-foreign cooperative education programmes at the tertiary level. The five-dimension MUSIC theory of motivation (empowerment, usefulness, success, interest, and caring) was utilized as the model for the measurement of student motivation. The quantitative method by survey was used and samples were gathered in questionnaires taken by 350 students studying at EMI programmes where English was used as the dominant language in teaching in three universities of South China. The multidimensional status of the MUSIC model was analyzed with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The results present solid evidence for the five-factor MUSIC construct solution, proof of its validity within the EMI environment showing that the model is valid, reliable and applicable to EMI studies. Results proved our assumption that the EMI course motivation construct could be explained using the five first-order factors. Results also proved acceptable internal consistency reliability for the entire scale of learning motivation at the tertiary level. The study confirms the use of the MUSIC model in EMI and makes a general contribution towards knowledge in the field of motivation for cross-cultural higher education contexts.