The structure and strength of achievement motivation: A cross‐cultural comparison

An intercultural research project on achievement motivation was originated based on a multifaceted approach. The objective of this study was to analyze the structure of the achievement motive domain for samples from five countries: the United States, the Netherlands, Israel, Hungary, and Japan. We hypothesized that data collected from the various samples will reflect the basic facets suggested by the definitional framework of achievement motivation. In addition, it was hypothesized that the individualistic and collectivistic cultural orientations will have an effect on motive strength. Results from 1868 respondents supported the hypotheses. The three basic facets of the definition of achievement motive: behavior modality (instrumental, affective, or cognitive), type of confrontation (confronting oneself or matching solutions to challenges), and time perspective relative to task performance (before, during, or after performance), were reflected as major determinants of the data. Achievement tendencies were highest for U.S.A. respondents (individualistic culture) and lowest for the Japanese and the Hungarian respondents (collectivistic societies). Theoretical implications as well as suggestions for further research were outlined.

[1]  Harry C. Triandis,et al.  Individualism and collectivism: Theory, method, and applications. , 1996 .

[2]  Robert J. Vandenberg,et al.  A Central Question in Cross-Cultural Research: Do Employees of Different Cultures Interpret Work-related Measures in an Equivalent Manner?: , 1994 .

[3]  Samuel Shye,et al.  Introduction to Facet Theory: Content Design and Intrinsic Data Analysis in Behavioral Research , 1994 .

[4]  Frederick A. Kosinski,et al.  Is Chinese conflict-handling behavior influenced by Chinese values? , 1994 .

[5]  H. Yamauchi,et al.  Achievement-related motives and work-related attitudes of Japanese and Chinese students , 1993 .

[6]  A. Sagie.  Measurement of Religiosity and Work Obligations Among Israeli Youth , 1993 .

[7]  P. Earley.  East Meets West Meets Mideast: Further Explorations Of Collectivistic and Individualistic Work Groups , 1993 .

[8]  S. Mark Young,et al.  A FRAMEWORK FOR SUCCESSFUL ADOPTION AND PERFORMANCE OF JAPANESE MANUFACTURING PRACTICES IN THE UNITED STATES , 1992 .

[9]  L. James,et al.  Testing Behavioral Consistency and Coherence with the Situation-Response Measure of Achievement Motivation. , 1991, Multivariate behavioral research.

[10]  Erik K. Winslow.  The Issue of Motivating Entre(Intra)Preneurial Behavior. , 1990 .

[11]  Richard Lynn,et al.  A multifactorial approach to achievement motivation: The development of a comprehensive measure , 1989, Journal of Occupational Psychology.

[12]  John B. Miner,et al.  Role of entrepreneurial task motivation in the growth of technologically innovative firms. , 1989 .

[13]  R. Helmreich,et al.  Achievement strivings, scholastic aptitude, and academic performance: a follow-up to "impatience versus achievement strivings in the type A pattern". , 1989, The Journal of applied psychology.

[14]  Murray B. Low,et al.  Entrepreneurship: Past Research and Future Challenges , 1988 .

[15]  R. MacCallum,et al.  THE APPLICATION OF EXPLORATORY FACTOR ANALYSIS IN APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY: A CRITICAL REVIEW AND ANALYSIS , 1986 .

[16]  D. Elizur.  Achievement motive and sport performance , 1986 .

[17]  D. Elizur,et al.  Achievement motive: A reconceptualization and new instrument , 1985 .

[18]  C. Faver.  Achievement orientation, attainment values, and women's employment , 1982 .

[19]  G. Hofstede,et al.  Culture′s Consequences: International Differences in Work-Related Values , 1980 .

[20]  S. Gould.  Need for achievement, career mobility, and the Mexican-American college graduate. , 1980 .

[21]  D. Elizur.  Assessing Achievement Motive of American and Israeli Managers: Design and Application of a Three-Facet Measure , 1979 .

[22]  S. Shye.  Achievement Motive: A Faceted Definition And Structural Analysis. , 1978, Multivariate Behavioral Research.

[23]  Louis Guttman,et al.  The Structure of Attitudes toward Work and Technological Change within an Organization , 1976 .

[24]  D. Jackson,et al.  Is achievement a unitary construct , 1976 .

[25]  L. Guttman.  A general nonmetric technique for finding the smallest coordinate space for a configuration of points , 1968 .

[26]  R. Johnston.  A methodological analysis of several revised forms of the Iowa picture interpretation test. , 1957, Journal of personality.

[27]  D. Elizur,et al.  Gender differences in achievement motive: a facet analysis of Hungarian samples. , 1994, The Journal of psychology.

[28]  Samuel Shye,et al.  Introduction to Facet Theory , 1994 .

[29]  A. Sagie.  Assessing Achievement Motivation: Construction and Application of a New Scale Using Elizur's Multifaceted Approach , 1994 .

[30]  P. Earley,et al.  Culture, self-identity, and work , 1993 .

[31]  S. Schwartz.  Universals in the Content and Structure of Values: Theoretical Advances and Empirical Tests in 20 Countries , 1992 .

[32]  J. Beech,et al.  Japanese-British Differences on Achievement-Related Motives , 1991 .

[33]  Dov Elizur,et al.  The structure of work values: A cross cultural comparison , 1991 .

[34]  David V. Canter,et al.  Facet theory : approaches to social research , 1985 .

[35]  R. Sitgreaves.  Psychometric theory (2nd ed.). , 1979 .

[36]  Louis Guttman,et al.  Adapting to innovation : a facet analysis of the case of the computer , 1970 .

[37]  J. W. Atkinson.  Motives in fantasy, action and society : a method of assessment and study , 1958 .

[38]  H. Triandis,et al.  Individualism and Collectivism: Cross-cultural Perspectives on Self-ingroup Relationships We Wish to Thank Our Research Collaborators for Stimulating Ideas, Data, and Moral Support in Carrying out a Complex Set of Studies. They , 2022 .