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Seventy-five years of motivation measures (1930–2005): A descriptive analysis

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Abstract

The literature on motivational measures from 1930 to 2005 is reviewed. First, major theoretical models in the area are discussed. Next, a search of PsycINFO is reported for the most frequently employed measures of motivation, with additional support from an SPSP Listserv query of researchers. From this, a diverse group of measures is sorted into various categories, including general scales, context-specific scales (e.g., schooling, work, athletics), and new scales of significance. Then, a descriptive taxonomy of measures in the field of motivation is suggested in order to synthesize ideas about measurement scales. Suggestions are offered for further research in motivational measurement.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to express thanks to a number of anonymous reviewers who commented on earlier drafts of this manuscript, and to Richard Ryan, whose editorial suggestions greatly assisted our work. A special thanks is owed to Kimberly Phillips, who helped draft the results of the SPSP Listserv query that was returned to the Listserv members. Finally, we extend our grateful thanks to the SPSP members who responded to our Listserv query; their comments greatly enriched this review.

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Appendix

Appendix

Procedures for identifying major motivation measures

Part 1: initial search rules to get the initial names of tests

  • Step 1. The PsycINFO database was searched multiple times employing terms such as “motivation” “test” “measure” and a modifier for sub-listing purposes so as to identify a large number of tests and scales. Additional modifiers employed were “self-report,” “projective,” “athletic,” “academic,” “work,” and “intrinsic.”

  • Step 2. Tests names also were retrieved from (a) Tests in Print IV (Murphy et al. 2002) using the search terms motivating, motivation, work motivation, work motives, intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, athletics/sports, athletics, achievement, achievement motivation, and academic motivation; and also from (b) Mental Measurements Yearbook (Buros 1978; Plake et al. 2003), using a similar list of terms.

  • Step 3. These three sources—PsycINFO, Tests in Print, and Mental Measurements Yearbook— were scanned for test names. (Original search dates were the week of November 21-28, 2004). Approximately 140 names were identified from PsycINFO, 75 from Tests in Print VI, and the remaining from the Mental Measurements Yearbook. The original list of psychological measures eventually numbered around 230.

Part 2: search for the number of research studies on a given test

  • Step 1. During February 2005, we entered the full name of each test individually from the list compiled above into PsycINFO.

  • Step 2. In most cases, numerous results were returned. To evaluate the quality of the search, we spot-checked the first, (and where applicable) second, fifth, and, one hundredth page of results to assess the degree to which the results really were research studies pertaining to the specific scale. Where the number was low, we spot checked all results.

  • Step 2a. If one or more mis-hits occurred, the test name was further specified by an acronym, or where appropriate, by an author.

  • Step 3. We then excluded a number of tests on the basis of recency and relevance. If a listed test had, for example, only three or four citations after 50 years, it was considered no longer in use and dropped from the list. Additionally, tests that were only peripherally related to motivation, such as those measuring social desirability, self-monitoring, or sensation-seeking, were not reviewed. This narrowed the list from more than 200 to 155 tests.

  • Step 4. A further exclusion rule was then applied in order to filter out more seldom-used tests. Scales published before 1980 with fewer than six references were eliminated, as were scales published before 1990 with fewer than three references.

  • Step 5. The “Number of hits” columns in Tables 15 are taken directly from each test’s valid list of results. Where the number was extremely high, some irrelevant search results are likely included.

Part 3: classification rules

The final set of rules involved sorting the resulting scales into useful categories.

  • Step 1. Based on the discussion above, we sorted scales into five main categories: (a) general motivation scales (both thematic and self-judged), specific area scales of (b) work, (c) academic, and (d) athletic motivation, and (e) a catchall “other” category for specific scales measuring only one motive which did not fall into the original three “specific” categories.

  • Step 2. The last few peripheral scales (“Values” scales) were then discarded. For the reasons behind this, see McClelland et al. 1989, pp. 690–691). The final group of 49 scales were included in Tables 1 through 5.

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Mayer, J.D., Faber, M.A. & Xu, X. Seventy-five years of motivation measures (1930–2005): A descriptive analysis. Motiv Emot 31, 83–103 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-007-9060-2

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