Psychometric Approaches in Self-Determination Theory

Abstract The valid measurement of psychological constructs is an essential and necessary component of research within self-determination theory (SDT). Without effective scales and psychometric practices, the meaning and knowledge contributed by any given study is severely undermined. This chapter discusses various psychometric approaches that have been applied to examine multidimensional constructs within SDT, such as basic psychological needs, motivational regulation types, and sources of autonomy support. The chapter covers both traditional and contemporary approaches including confirmatory and exploratory factor analysis as we all as higher-order and bifactor models. Several directions for further attention are discussed, notably the benefits to SDT that can be seen from publicly available data of published studies.