Script processing and intrinsic motivation: The cognitive sets underlying cognitive labels

Abstract

Research on cognitive evaluation theory has found that imposed external constraints can reduce the intrinsic motivation associated with an originally interesting task. It has been suggested that external constraints such as rewards affect intrinsic motivation through their impact on perceptions of locus of causality and self-competence. Recently research has shown that the cognitive labels associated with a task (play vs work) also affect intrinsic motivation. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the role of the cognitive sets that may underlie play and work labels and the effect of performance goals on intrinsic motivation. It was hypothesized that play and work scripts as measured by script-related memory measures would predict the degree of intrinsic motivation associated with an activity. In addition, performance goals were manipulated in order to investigate the effect of perceived locus of goal and goal difficulty on intrinsic motivation. In order to examine the above relationships, a 2 (play vs work context) × 3 (self-set vs assigned moderate vs assigned difficult performance goals) factorial design was used with 150 college students serving as subjects. The results were generally supportive of a script processing model. Play script memory items were significant predictors of intrinsic motivation. In addition, goals that were perceived as originating internally and as being difficult were positively related to intrinsic motivation.