Seventy-five years of motivation measures (1930–2005): A descriptive analysis

Abstract

The literature on motivational measures from 1930 to 2005 is reviewed. First, major theoretical models in the area are discussed. Next, a search of PsycINFO is reported for the most frequently employed measures of motivation, with additional support from an SPSP Listserv query of researchers. From this, a diverse group of measures is sorted into various categories, including general scales, context-specific scales (e.g., schooling, work, athletics), and new scales of significance. Then, a descriptive taxonomy of measures in the field of motivation is suggested in order to synthesize ideas about measurement scales. Suggestions are offered for further research in motivational measurement.