An effective instrument for assessing students' reading motivation should focus on what?

Focusing on the perception students have of their own reading ability is critical for assessing reading motivation. This self-perception significantly influences a student's motivation to engage with reading tasks. When students believe they are capable readers, they are more likely to take on challenges and persist in their efforts, which can lead to improved reading skills and a positive attitude toward reading as a whole.

Understanding students’ perceptions allows educators to tailor instruction and support to help amplify students' strengths and address any feelings of inadequacy they may have. This can directly enhance motivation, as students who feel confident in their abilities are generally more willing to participate and take risks in reading.

In contrast, factors such as the difficulty of materials, reading tasks assigned by teachers, or historical reading successes can be relevant in certain contexts but do not directly assess how motivation is influenced by students’ self-perceptions. For an assessment tool aimed at understanding reading motivation, prioritizing students' own beliefs about their reading capabilities is essential.