Psychometric Validation of the Mizan Meta-memory and Meta-Concentration Scale for Students (MMSS) Among a Sample of Health Care Students in Nigeria
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Introduction: Meta-memory and meta-cognition play crucial roles in self-regulating cognitive processes, impacting learning and problem-solving abilities. The Mizan meta-memory and meta-concentration scale for students (MMSS) was developed as a concise tool to assess these cognitive functions. While the MMSS has been validated in Ethiopian and Saudi Arabian populations, its applicability to Nigerian healthcare students remains unexplored. Given the intense cognitive demands of medical education, this study aims to validate the MMSS among Nigerian healthcare students, assessing its psychometric properties and reliability. Methods: A cross-sectional study using simple random sampling was conducted among 299 healthcare students (Medicine and Surgery, Dentistry and Physiotherapy) at the University of Ibadan. Participants completed an online survey containing the MMSS, a nine-item questionnaire divided into two subscales: meta-memory and meta-concentration. Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed to assess construct validity while confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to determine model fit. Results: The MMSS demonstrated strong internal consistency both for the MMSS global and subscales (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.875, 0.808, 0.857; McDonald’s omega = 0.871, 0.805, 0.859). EFA confirmed a two-factor structure, with the meta-memory subscale explaining 50.26% of the variance and the meta-concentration subscale accounting for 12.78%. CFA results indicated a good model fit (CFI = 0.974, TLI = 0.959, RMSEA = 0.066, SRMR = 0.041, X 2 /df < 2.284, PCLOSE = 0.127), supporting the scale’s validity. The MMSS was found to be a reliable measure of cognitive self-regulation among Nigerian healthcare students. Conclusion: The findings support the use of the MMSS as a valid tool for assessing meta-memory and meta-concentration in Nigerian healthcare students. Given its strong psychometric properties, the MMSS can be applied in educational settings to enhance learning strategies and cognitive self-regulation.
