Motivational mechanisms of employee creativity: A meta-analytic examination and theoretical extension of the creativity literature

Abstract

Drawing on the componential theory of creativity, social cognitive theory, and prosocial motivation theory, we examined intrinsic motivation, creative self-efficacy, and prosocial motivation as distinct motivational mechanisms underlying creativity. Results from a meta-analysis of 191 independent samples (N=51,659) documented in the relevant literature revealed that intrinsic motivation, creative self-efficacy, and prosocial motivation each had unique explanatory power in predicting creativity, and that the three motivational mechanisms functioned differently as mediators between contextual and personal factors and creativity. The relationships of intrinsic motivation and creative self-efficacy with creativity also were found to be contingent upon sample characteristics and methodological factors (i.e., national culture, creativity measure, intrinsic motivation and creative self-efficacy measures, and publication status). Our findings highlight the need to develop a more fine-grained theory of motivation and creativity. Implications for theoretical extensions and future research are discussed.