Exploring and “reconciling” the factor structure for the Revised Two-factor Study Process Questionnaire

•Researchers have reached different conclusions about the R-SPQ-2F's dimensionality.•None of these a priori models had good fit.•Results suggest that a 2-factor structure without items 7 and 8 is most appropriate.

The Revised Two-factor Study Process Questionnaire (R-SPQ-2F) operationalizes learning approaches such as deep and surface, and further subdivides these into motives and strategies. Many researchers have investigated the dimensionality and factor structure of the R-SPQ-2F, although they have all reached different conclusions. The current study attempts to disentangle these differences, by testing eight models with the intent of removing the effect of the different statistical methodologies used by each study. This study found that a model without items 7 and 8 that operationalizes the R-SPQ-2F as the two factors of surface approach and deep approach may be most appropriate.