Abstract
Research into individuals’ intended behavior and performance has traditionally adopted explicitly measured, self-report constructs, and outcomes. More recently, research has shown that completing explicit self-report measures of constructs may effect subsequent behavior, termed the “mere measurement” effect. The aim of the present experiment was to investigate whether implicit measures of motivation showed a similar mere measurement effect on subsequent behavior. It may be the case that measuring the implicit systems affects subsequent implicit interventions (e.g., priming), observable on subsequent behavior. Priming manipulations were also given to participants in order to investigate the interaction between measurement and priming of motivation. Initially, a 2 [implicit association test (IAT: present vs. absent) ×2 (Prime: autonomous vs. absent) and a 2 (IAT: present vs. absent) × 2 (Prime: controlled vs. absent)] between participants designs were conducted, these were them combined into a 2 (IAT: present vs. absent) ×3 (Prime: autonomous vs. controlled vs. absent) between participants design, with attempts at a novel task taken as the outcome measure. Implicit measure completion significantly decreased behavioral engagement. Priming autonomous motivation significantly facilitated, and controlled motivation significantly inhibited performance. Finally, there was a significant implicit measurement × priming interaction, such that priming autonomous motivation only improved performance in the absence of the implicit measure. Overall, this research provides an insight into the effects of implicit measurement and priming of motivation and the combined effect of completing both tasks on behavior.
Highlights
When considering explicit, self-report assessments of motivation and other psychological constructs, recent research has shown that completion of a questionnaire significantly affects subsequent behavior, frequently referred to as the mere measurement effect (Godin et al, 2010; Conner et al, 2011)
The difference in attempts made between the groups was examined with a 2 (IAT measure: present vs. absent) × 3 (Priming: autonomous motivation vs. controlled motivation vs. no priming) analysis of variance (ANOVA) – see Table 12
The present study is the first to test this in the field of selfdetermination theory (SDT) and motivation, and seems to indicate there is potential for the completion of implicit measures to affect behavior (H1)
Summary
Self-report assessments of motivation and other psychological constructs, recent research has shown that completion of a questionnaire significantly affects subsequent behavior, frequently referred to as the mere measurement effect (Godin et al, 2010; Conner et al, 2011). [selfdetermination theory (SDT; Deci and Ryan, 2008)] has been augmented to include implicitly measured motivational variables alongside explicit factors. The aim and unique contribution to the literature of the present research, was to investigate the effects of implicitly measured motivational factors. We investigated whether mere measurement affected or sensitised subsequent priming manipulations on behavioral engagement, within the framework SDT (Deci and Ryan, 1985)
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