The Work Preference Inventory: Assessing Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivational Orientations

T. M. Amabile; K. G. Hill; B. A. Hennessey; E. M. Tighe

Article | Journal of Personality and Social Psychology | May 1994

The Work Preference Inventory: Assessing Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivational Orientations

by T. M. Amabile, K. G. Hill, B. A. Hennessey and E. M. Tighe

Abstract

The Work Preference Inventory (WPI) is designed to assess individual differences in intrinsic and extrinsic motivational orientations. Both the college student and the working adult versions aim to capture the major elements of intrinsic motivation (self-determination, competence, task involvement, curiosity, enjoyment, and interest) and extrinsic motivation (concerns with competition, evaluation, recognition, money or other tangible incentives, and constraint by others). The instrument is scored on two primary scales, each subdivided into 2 secondary scales. The WPI has meaningful factor structures, adequate internal consistency, good short-term test-retest reliability, and good longer term stability. Moreover, WPI scores are related in meaningful ways to other questionnaire and behavioral measures of motivation, as well as personality characteristics, attitudes, and behaviors.

Keywords: Creativity; Motivation and Incentives; Measurement and Metrics; Higher Education; Employees; Personal Characteristics;

Format: Print

18 pages

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Citation:

Amabile, T. M., K. G. Hill, B. A. Hennessey, and E. M. Tighe. "The Work Preference Inventory: Assessing Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivational Orientations." Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 66, no. 5 (May 1994): 950–967.

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The Work Preference Inventory: Assessing Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivational Orientations

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