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Research on intrinsic and extrinsic motivation is alive, well, and reshaping 21st-Century management approaches : Brief reply to Locke and Schattke (2019) [Commentary]
Ryan, Richard M. Deci, Edward L.
Ryan, Richard M.
Deci, Edward L.
Author
Abstract
[Correction Notice: An Erratum for this article was reported in Vol 6(2) of Motivation Science (see record 2020-29840-001). In the article, an editorial production error resulted in an incorrect sentence in the second paragraph of the introduction, whereby the text “the gist of them can be found in Richard M. Ryan’s work nearly 30 years ago” should have read “the gist of them can be found in the first author’s work nearly 30 years ago,” and in an incorrect sentence in the second paragraph of the On Intrinsic Motivation section, whereby the text “an anecdote from Richard M. Ryan’s tennis club experiences” should have read “an anecdote from the first author’s tennis club experiences.” The online version of this article has been corrected.] Comments on an article by Locke and Schattke (see record 2018-46072-001). Over the past two decades organizational researchers, human resources (HR) professionals, and corporate managers have increasingly embraced self-determination theory (SDT). This growth in the use of SDT stems from its provision of an evidence-based approach to supporting the basic psychological needs of employees, which in turn drives high-quality motivation and the key performance indicators that stem from it, with meta-analyses, careful empirical reviews, and intervention studies continually confirming these ideas. It thus came as a surprise to find an article in Motivation Science by Locke and Schattke (2019) suggesting that this generative and evidence-supported work is “seriously inadequate,” confusing, and in need of radical redefinition. To support this, Locke and Schattke offer no new evidence, nor a systematic review. Rather they translate extant theories, especially SDT, in unexacting ways and then criticize their own construal of them. Notably, their critiques are also not new; the gist of them can be found in the first author’s work nearly 30 years ago (Locke & Latham, 1990). Across these decades, Locke and colleagues have assembled no meaningful empirical support for these assertions. In the meantime, hundreds of studies have piled up in support SDT, and its practical value has been repeatedly proven. (PsycInfo Database Record © 2020 APA, all rights reserved)
Keywords
Date
2019
Type
Journal article
Journal
Motivation Science
Book
Volume
5
Issue
4
Page Range
291-294
Article Number
ACU Department
Institute for Positive Psychology and Education
Faculty of Education and Arts
Faculty of Education and Arts
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
All rights reserved
File Access
Controlled