Propagation rate coefficients k(p) have been determined for free radical polymerizations of methacrylic acid (MAA) using pulsed-laser polymerizations (PLP) combined with size exclusion chromatography (SEC). The temperature dependence of k(p) has been studied for polymerizations of 33 vol % monomer in methanol in the temperature range from 20 to 60 degrees C. k(p) is described by the following Arrhenius relation : In[k(p)/L . mol(-1). s(-1)] = (13.31 +/- 0.49) - (2132 +/- 133)K/T. Variations in MAA concentration and the type of solvent do not influence k(p) significantly. Any distinctions elicited in k(p) by these variations are of the order of the experimental uncertainty and are much smaller than the relative changes in the MAA monomer-dimer equilibrium observed by FTIR spectroscopy. The magnitude of k(p) and its variation with temperature are similar to results reported for methyl methacrylate and the rest of the methacrylate family.