Abstract
This research builds on recent interest in Educational Psychologists’ (EPs) working-life contexts, patterns, and motivations. It seeks to deepen the knowledge made through Department for Education research (DfE, 2023) by presenting the development and validation of the Educational Psychology Workplace Motivation (EPWM) scale. The paper reports the application of the theory of motivational interviewing to the construction of the EPWM scale. The measure development process, including content validity and construct validity, is described, highlighting the rigorous validation procedures adopted. Suggestions for further strengthening the measure's rigor, such as establishing criterion validity through comparison with other measures, are discussed. Additionally, the analysis of data collected from 201 practicing EPs provides further insights into work-life contexts and patterns. The findings suggest that EPs often work beyond their contracted hours, have high caseloads, and produce a significant number of reports each academic year. The data also reveal a tendency for more time to be spent on school visits compared to home visits, shedding light on the locations of EPs' direct contact work. By making the EPWM scale available as an open-access resource, the study encourages further development and adaptation by the EP research community. In relation to recent renewed interest in EP working life experiences and motivations (DfE, 2023), the validation of the measure serves as a complementary step towards understanding EPs' work-life experiences and aims to stimulate further research in this area.