The assessment of motivation within Maslow's framework

Abstract

Reports progress in the development of a research tool for the assessment of the three developmentally earliest, within Maslow's framework, conative needs (physiological, safety, belongingness). Scores on the Needsort were derived according to Kagan's conceptualization of motive description. Item analyses, item selection methods, reliability studies, and validation studies across a broad range of populations are discussed. These studies employed both factor-analytic and comparative (analysis of variance) methods. Safety-need scores discriminated among persons varying in social and cognitive development. Preliminary analyses of belongingness needs among disturbed children supported Eron's recent conclusions concerning the possible ways to prevent development of overly aggressive behavior among populations with high risk for such behavior disorders.