This study aimed to develop and validate a measure of emergent reading motivation designed for prekindergarten children, called the Emergent Reading Motivation Scale (ERMS). The development of the ERMS was to overcome the limitation that current existing reading motivation measures are not developmentally appropriate for young children. Fifty-six…

This study characterizes the reading and writing motivations of kindergarten children. Four hundred fifty-one children participated in the study, answering questions measuring value, self-concept, and enjoyment of reading and writing. A factor analysis validated the conceptual motivational constructs. Findings indicate that kindergarten children…

Examines changes in first- and second-graders' reading motivation across the course of a school year in the United States and Finland. Explores possible developmental patterns in early reading motivation that operate universally across cultural contexts. Finds that in both countries first-graders' reading motivation increased significantly across…