How situational is situational interest? Investigating the longitudinal structure of situational interest

Maximilian Knogler; Judith M. Harackiewicz; Andreas Gegenfurtner; Doris Lewalter

doi:10.1016/j.cedpsych.2015.08.004

How situational is situational interest? Investigating the longitudinal structure of situational interest

Maximilian Knogler^*, Judith M. Harackiewicz, Andreas Gegenfurtner, Doris Lewalter

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Interest theory adopts a person-in-context perspective. In this view, a momentary experience of interest is shaped by environmental circumstances and stable personal preferences. According to the Four-Phase Model of Interest Development, environmental factors are important in defining the concept of situational interest (SI). This study investigates this assumption. Repeated measurements of SI collected from a sample of 327 high school students during problem-based learning activities were analyzed using Latent-State Trait (LST) theory. LST models allow identification of situation-specific and consistent components in repeated measurements. Results show that situation-specific effects had a strong influence on self-reported SI. Further analysis revealed that substantial variance components in SI were unconfounded with preexisting individual interest. Based on these two criteria, the findings support defining the psychological state of interest as "situational interest".

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	39-50
Journal	Contemporary Educational Psychology
Volume	43
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cedpsych.2015.08.004
Publication status	Published - Oct 2015

Keywords

Situational interest
Individual Interest
Latent state-trait theory
Four-Phase Model of Interest Development

Access to Document

10.1016/j.cedpsych.2015.08.004

Cite this

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title = "How situational is situational interest? Investigating the longitudinal structure of situational interest",

abstract = "Interest theory adopts a person-in-context perspective. In this view, a momentary experience of interest is shaped by environmental circumstances and stable personal preferences. According to the Four-Phase Model of Interest Development, environmental factors are important in defining the concept of situational interest (SI). This study investigates this assumption. Repeated measurements of SI collected from a sample of 327 high school students during problem-based learning activities were analyzed using Latent-State Trait (LST) theory. LST models allow identification of situation-specific and consistent components in repeated measurements. Results show that situation-specific effects had a strong influence on self-reported SI. Further analysis revealed that substantial variance components in SI were unconfounded with preexisting individual interest. Based on these two criteria, the findings support defining the psychological state of interest as {"}situational interest{"}. ",

keywords = "Situational interest, Individual Interest, Latent state-trait theory, Four-Phase Model of Interest Development",

author = "Maximilian Knogler and Harackiewicz, {Judith M.} and Andreas Gegenfurtner and Doris Lewalter",

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T1 - How situational is situational interest? Investigating the longitudinal structure of situational interest

AU - Knogler, Maximilian

AU - Harackiewicz, Judith M.

AU - Gegenfurtner, Andreas

AU - Lewalter, Doris

PY - 2015/10

Y1 - 2015/10

N2 - Interest theory adopts a person-in-context perspective. In this view, a momentary experience of interest is shaped by environmental circumstances and stable personal preferences. According to the Four-Phase Model of Interest Development, environmental factors are important in defining the concept of situational interest (SI). This study investigates this assumption. Repeated measurements of SI collected from a sample of 327 high school students during problem-based learning activities were analyzed using Latent-State Trait (LST) theory. LST models allow identification of situation-specific and consistent components in repeated measurements. Results show that situation-specific effects had a strong influence on self-reported SI. Further analysis revealed that substantial variance components in SI were unconfounded with preexisting individual interest. Based on these two criteria, the findings support defining the psychological state of interest as "situational interest".

AB - Interest theory adopts a person-in-context perspective. In this view, a momentary experience of interest is shaped by environmental circumstances and stable personal preferences. According to the Four-Phase Model of Interest Development, environmental factors are important in defining the concept of situational interest (SI). This study investigates this assumption. Repeated measurements of SI collected from a sample of 327 high school students during problem-based learning activities were analyzed using Latent-State Trait (LST) theory. LST models allow identification of situation-specific and consistent components in repeated measurements. Results show that situation-specific effects had a strong influence on self-reported SI. Further analysis revealed that substantial variance components in SI were unconfounded with preexisting individual interest. Based on these two criteria, the findings support defining the psychological state of interest as "situational interest".

KW - Situational interest

KW - Individual Interest

KW - Latent state-trait theory

KW - Four-Phase Model of Interest Development

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DO - 10.1016/j.cedpsych.2015.08.004

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JO - Contemporary Educational Psychology

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