Unit 3️⃣ Flashcards
What are the different levels at which motivation can be analyzed?
Motivation can be analyzed at four levels:
1. Physiological level – Examines biological responses to motivation, such as heart rate or brain
activity.
2. Individual level – Focuses on personal motives and psychological processes.
3. Social level – Investigates how motivation is influenced by interactions with others.
4. Philosophical level – Explores motivation from a conceptual and theoretical perspective.
What are the three main techniques for measuring motivation?
The three main techniques are:
1. Observable behavior – Examining actions that indicate motivation.
2. Physiological responses – Measuring bodily reactions to motivation.
3. Subjective states – Using self-report measures to understand internal experiences.
How can motivation be inferred from observable behavior?
Motivation can be assessed by analyzing behavioral indicators such as:
• Frequency: How often a behavior occurs within a given time frame.
• Accuracy: The proportion of correct responses or successful attempts in a task.
• Election: Which option an individual selects when given multiple choices.
• Temporary : How long and intensely an individual engages in a task.
What are some challenges in using observable behavior to assess motivation?
Some limitations include:
• Response time variability – Individual differences or situational factors can affect reaction time.
• Distinguishing errors from successes – A person’s choices might not always indicate motivation.
What are possible solutions to these limitations?
To improve the accuracy of observations, researchers can:
• Provide clear instructions to participants.
• Use practice trials to familiarize participants with tasks.
• Design experiments where individuals serve as their own control to reduce variability.
Physiological Responses
How do physiological responses help in assessing motivation?
Physiological responses provide objective, biological indicators of motivation. These responses
fall under two main categories:
1. Physiological psychology (animals) – Studies the brain structures involved in motivated
behavior.
2. Psychophysiology (humans) – Measures how the body reacts to motivational stimuli.
What are some common physiological measures used in motivation research?
• Electrodermal activity (EDA): Measures sweat gland activity, reflecting emotional arousal.• Exosomatic measurement: Uses an external electrical stimulus to assess skin conductance (e.g.,
galvanic skin response).
• Endosomatic measurement: Measures spontaneous skin potentials without external stimulation.
• Cardiovascular measures:
• Heart rate (HR) – Number of beats per minute, can change with emotional arousal.
• Blood pressure (BP) – Measures systolic and diastolic pressure changes in response to motivation.
• Blood flow – Monitors dilation and constriction of blood vessels in response to stimuli.
What are the limitations of physiological measures in motivation research?
• They indirectly measure motivation and may also reflect other psychological processes (e.g., stress
or fear).
• They have questionable psychological significance, as the same physiological reaction can occur
for different reasons.
How can researchers address these limitations?
• Use multiple physiological measures to improve accuracy.
• Ensure continuous measurement over time to detect patterns.
Subjective States (Self-Report Measures)
What is the role of self-report measures in assessing motivation?
Self-report techniques allow individuals to describe their own motivation using standardized
tools like:
• Interviews – Open-ended discussions to explore motivation.
• Questionnaires – Standardized surveys assessing motivation levels.• Self-records – Personal logs of behavior and emotions.
• Self-observation – Tracking personal motivation patterns over time.
What are three key purposes of using self-reports in motivation research?
- Identifying basic motives shared by all humans.
- Understanding how situational factors interact with individual motivational traits.
- Examining how different variables predict motivation and establish causal relationships.
What are the limitations of self-report measures?
• Limited validity: People may describe the same internal state differently.
• Social desirability bias: Individuals may report what they think is socially acceptable rather than the truth.
• Influence of test structure: The way questions are worded and ordered can affect responses.
What strategies can improve the accuracy of self-report measures?
• Incorporating lie detection scales to identify socially desirable responses.
• Using complementary tests to cross-check results.
• Adding interview components to provide additional context and depth.
