The effects of situational performance constraints on intrinsic motivation and satisfaction: the role of perceived competence and self-determination

Abstract Situational performance constraints, task interest, and pay contingencies were manipulated in a laboratory study in order to investigate the cognitive mechanisms associated with the previously observed detrimental effects of constraints on affective task reactions. It was hypothesized that feelings of task competence and self-determination would account for both the direct and the interactive effects of constraints on motivation and satisfaction. The results of the study indicated that despite the fact that participants' performance was being constrained and they were aware of these constraints, the mere presence of the constraints alone failed to result in lower levels of satisfaction or motivation on a proofreading task. Post hoc analyses suggested that the constraints, in fact, led to negative affective task reactions when they also reduced participants' feelings of competence and self-determination. Interestingly, participants' generalized locus of control was associated with such effects. Internals tended to maintain stronger feelings of competence and self-determination than externals in the presence of constraints, thereby also maintaining greater motivation and satisfaction.

[1]  R. Ryan,et al.  Control and information in the intrapersonal sphere: An extension of cognitive evaluation theory. , 1982 .

[2]  L. H. Peters,et al.  Situational Constraints and Work Outcomes: The Influences Of a Frequently Overlooked Construct , 1980 .

[3]  Edward L. Deci,et al.  Characteristics of the rewarder and intrinsic motivation of the rewardee. , 1981 .

[4]  Lawrence H. Peters,et al.  The behavioral and affective consequences of performance-relevant situational variables☆ , 1980 .

[5]  Lawrence H. Peters,et al.  The moderating effect of situational control of performance variance on the relationship between individual differences and performance , 1982 .

[6]  R. Dienstbier.  Attraction increases and decreases as a function of emotion-attribution and appropriate social cues , 1979 .

[7]  Cynthia D. Fisher,et al.  The effects of personal control, competence, and extrinsic reward systems on intrinsic motivation , 1978 .

[8]  Neal Schmitt,et al.  A comparison of LISREL and two-stage least squares analysis of a hypothesized life–job satisfaction reciprocal relationship. , 1982 .

[9]  Lawrence H. Peters,et al.  Situational Constraints and Employee Affective Reactions: A Partial Field Replication , 1982 .

[10]  Edward L. Deci,et al.  The Empirical Exploration of Intrinsic Motivational Processes1 , 1980 .

[11]  W. E. Scott.  Activation theory and task design , 1966 .

[12]  James S. Phillips,et al.  Determinants of Intrinsic Motivation: Locus of Control and Competence Information as Components of Deci's Cognitive Evaluation Theory , 1980 .

[13]  James S. Phillips,et al.  Situational Performance Constraints and Task Characteristics: Their Relationship to Motivation and Satisfaction , 1984 .

[14]  K. W. Mossholder,et al.  Effects of externally mediated goal setting on intrinsic motivation: A laboratory experiment. , 1980 .

[15]  R. Mayo.  THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCT VALIDATION OF A MEASURE OF INTRINSIC MOTIVATION. , 1976 .

[16]  Hal R. Arkes,et al.  Competence and the maintenance of behavior , 1978 .

[17]  J. G. Goodale,et al.  DEVELOPMENT OF THE SURVEY OF WORK VALUES , 1971 .

[18]  L. H. Peters,et al.  The Joint Influence of Situational Constraints and Goal Setting on Performance and Affective Outcomes , 1982 .

[19]  Edward L. Deci,et al.  Notes on the theory and metatheory of intrinsic motivation , 1976 .

[20]  Edward B. Fry,et al.  Fry's Readability Graph: Clarifications, Validity, and Extension to Level 17. , 1977 .

[21]  Robert Folger,et al.  When rewards reflect competence: A qualification of the overjustification effect. , 1980 .