Motivation

Question 1

What is Motivation?

Answer 1

Motivation is the extent to which persistent effort is directed towards a goal. It requires PERSISTENCE, EFFORT, and a GOAL.

Question 2

What is Performance controlled by?

Answer 2

Motivation and Ability.

Question 3

What is a content-based theory?

Answer 3

People’s needs motivate their behaviour. For example, Maslow’s Heirarchy of Needs.

Question 4

What is a process-based theory?

Answer 4

Cognitivy processes influence motivation. For exaple, Expectancy Theory

Question 5

What is a contemporary theory of Motivation?

Answer 5

Self-determination Theory, Goal-Setting Theory.

Question 6

What is Maslow’s Needs Heirarchy?

Answer 6

Physiological needs, safety needs, belongingness and love, esteem, self-actualization.

Question 7

What are the problems with Maslow’s Heirarchy of Needs?

Answer 7

The order is subjective and varies between cultures.

Question 8

What is McCelland’s Theory of Needs?

Answer 8

Need for Achievment, Need for Power, Need for Affiliation. There is no order to these three needs (unlike in Maslow’s Heirarchy)

Question 9

What is Expectancy Theory?

Answer 9

Motivation = f(Expectancy, Instrumentality, Valence)
Expectance: Greater effort leads to greater performance,
Instrumentality: Greater performance leads to rewards.
Valence: Rewards are satisfying.

Question 10

What are Expectance, Instrumentality and Valence?

Answer 10

They are the determinants of motivation in Expectancy Theory.
Expectance: Effort-> Performance
Instrumentality: Performance -> Rewards
Valence: Rewards -> Satisfaction

Question 11

What determines Expectance in Expectancy Theory?

Answer 11

Expectance says whether effort leads to performance. For this to happen, we need ability, well defined performance goals and a trustworthy performance evaluation system.

Question 12

What determines Instrumentality in Expectancy Theory?

Answer 12

Instrumentality measures whether Performance leads to rewards. For this to happen, we need well-understood, trustworthy and fair rewards.
People are hyper-sensitive to violations of fairness (for example the monkeys who like grapes!)

Question 13

What is the Universal Motivator?

Answer 13

Money. However, Contemporary Theories argue that this isn’t neccessarily true: people need different rewards.

Question 14

What is Self-Determination Theory?

Answer 14

There are two kinds of motivation: Intrinsic and Extrinsic. Intrinsic motivation has stronger effects on performance.

Question 15

What theory argues that money may lower performance?

Answer 15

Self-Determination Theory says that money is an extrinsic motivator. Extrinsic motivators undermine intrinsic motivation, which could lead to lower performance.

Question 16

What evidence is there against Self-Determination Theory?

Answer 16

S-D Theory argues that extrinsic motivation (money) can undermine intrinsic motivation and lower performance. Sometimes extrinsic motivation can have a small effect. However, extrinsic motivation seems to always increase performance.

Question 17

What increases Self-Determination related motivation?

Answer 17

Intrinsic Motivation can be boosted using FREELY-CHOSEN ACTIVITIES. For example, Google’s 20% time.

Question 18

What factors give intrinsic motivation?

Answer 18

Recognition.

Question 19

Is Money a universal motivator?

Answer 19

Yes. Money (an extrinsic motivator) always increases performance. However, intrinsic motivation can also be very powerful. Money leads to the incentivised behaviour being common, which can have unintended consequences.

Question 20

What is equity theory?

Answer 20

People hate unfair rewards. Equity Theory says that people will be more motivated if they percieve reward systems as being fair.

Question 21

What is Goal-setting theory?

Answer 21

Goal-setting theory says that specific and challenging but achievable goals with appropriate feedback help to motivate higher performance.

Question 22

What theory says that people are demotivated by unfair rewards?

Answer 22

Equity theory.

Question 23

What theory says that people are motivated by specific and challenging but achievable goals with appropriate feedback?

Answer 23

Goal-setting theory.

Question 24

Need for Power, Need for Affiliation and Need for Achievment are in which theory?

Answer 24

McCelland’s Theory of Needs.

Question 25

What are the parts of Expectancy Theory?

Answer 25

Expectance, Instrumentality, Valence. Essentially ‘is performenace improved’, ‘is improvement rewarded’ and ‘are rewards motivating’

Question 26

How might unequal rewards affect motivation? To which theory does this belong?

Answer 26

Reduces motivation - Equity Theory.

Question 27

Peoples needs motivate them. What kinds of theories are these?

Answer 27

Content-based theories

Question 28

Human cognition affects motivation. What kinds of theories are these?

Answer 28

Process-based theories

Question 29

Self-determination and goal-setting are what kind of theory?

Answer 29

Contemporary theories.

Question 30

What is Social Exchange Theory?

Answer 30

People give negative feedback if they recieve negative feedback. This is called the Reciprocity Norm.

Question 31

What is the Reciprocity Norm?

Answer 31

The tendency to give negative feedback if you recieve negative feedback.

Question 32

‘Negative feedback causes someone to give negative feedback’. To what theory does this belong?

Answer 32

Social Exchange Theory.

Question 33

In Social Exchange Theory, the ____ is universal.

Answer 33

Reciprocity Norm.