On the assessment of attitudes towards studying —Development and validation of a questionnaire

• An instrument Assessing Students' Attitudes towards Studying (ASAtS) was developed.
• The Higher Education Institution and the study process are assessed simultaneously.
• The research links students' perception of the institution with learning.
• The ASAtS questionnaire shows sound psychometric qualities.
• The questionnaire was validated with 1120 students from three countries.

This research aims to develop and validate an instrument for the assessment of attitudes towards two particular objects: the Higher Education Institution (HEI) and the process of studying. Investigating attitudes towards studying at a HEI in a comprehensive way addresses an important research gap. It connects students' perception of the institution with teaching and learning. To validate the Assessment of Students' Attitudes towards Studying (ASAtS) Questionnaire, data was gathered at three different universities in Switzerland (820 students), Sweden (167) and Germany (133). Overall, the results show the internal consistency of the ASAtS. Its nomological validity is also supported by correlations with other constructs, such as intrinsic motivation and study performance. The ASAtS contributes to the theory on students learning by broadening the scope of research beyond learning in a narrow sense. From a practical point of view, it provides a tool for HE management to monitor students' perception of their HEI.

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