2011/07/12 by Benjamin Nagengast, Herbert W. Marsh, Laura Francesca Scalas +3 · 2 citations
Psychology · Social Sciences · #Behavioral Health and Interventions #Social and Intergroup Psychology #Motivation and Self-Concept in Sports
paper · doi:10.1177/0956797611415540
openalex publication_date 2011/07/12 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
Expectancy-value theory (EVT) is a dominant theory of human motivation. Historically, the Expectancy × Value interaction, in which motivation is high only if both expectancy and value are high, was central to EVT. However, the Expectancy × Value interaction mysteriously disappeared from published research more than 25 years ago. Using large representative samples of 15-year-olds (N = 398,750) from 57 diverse countries, we attempted to solve this mystery by testing Expectancy × Value interactions using latent-variable models with interactions. Expectancy (science self-concept), value (enjoyment of science), and the Expectancy × Value interaction all had statistically significant positive effects on both engagement in science activities and intentions of pursuing scientific careers; these results were similar for the total sample and for nearly all of the 57 countries considered separately. This study, apparently the strongest cross-national test of EVT ever undertaken, supports the generalizability of EVT predictions--including the "lost" Expectancy × Value interaction.