Unit 3: Assessment of motivated behaviour

Question 1

Which levels of complexity/ planes of analysis are there to measure motivation?

Answer 1

Physiological
Individual
Social
Philosophical

Question 2

What are motivation measurement techniques based on?

Answer 2

Measurement of:
- observable behaviour
- physiological responses
- subjective states (self-report)

Question 3

What can the motivational process be infered from?

Answer 3

publicly reported behaviour (observable)

Question 4

How do we measure observable behaviours? (types)

Answer 4

Frequency: Response rate
Accuracy: Number of successes/misses/attempts
Election: Actions of free choice
Temporary: Response time, persistency, effort

Question 5

What are limitations for measuring observable behaviour?

Answer 5

Variability of response time
Differentiating errors from successes

Question 6

What are possible solutions to the limitations of measuring observable behaviour?

Answer 6

Providing clear instructions
Schedule practice/ familiarization trials
use designs in which subjects are in their own control

Question 7

Whats the difference between Physiological psychology and Psychophysiology?

Answer 7

Physiological psychology: animals, conduct
Psychophysiology: Humans, physiological responses

Question 8

What are SNA measures and which types of trials are there?

Answer 8

measure electrodermal activity: reflects functioning of endocrine sweat glands
Exosomatic: with external electrical stimulus
endosomatic: without external electrical stimulus

Question 9

Cardiovascular measures

Answer 9

Heart rate: number of cardiac contractions/minute (ECG) varies within respiratory cycle
Bloodflow: Dilation/Contraction of blood vessels
Blood pressure: Diastolic/ systolic

Question 10

What are the limitations of measuring physiological responses?

Answer 10

measures motivational process indirectly
indices of various psychological responses
questionable significance

Question 11

What are possible solutions to the limitations of physiological measurement?

Answer 11

Using more than one psychophysiological measure
continuous measurement

Question 12

What is used to measure subjective states and what are some characteristics of that technique?

Answer 12

Self-reporting
-> older procedure
-> useful for assessing aspects of life that are unknown or cant be directly manipulated
-> evaluate general repertoires of motives

Question 13

What exactly is a self-report?

Answer 13

standardised technique by which subject reports on own activity

Question 14

Which study purposes have self-reports been used for?

Answer 14

analyse and identify basic motives and motivational structures shared by all human beings
check how situational variables and motivational dispositions influence individual and subject environment interaction
Analysing whether variables vary together to predict/ test models
-> mediation and causality

Question 15

What are limitations of measuring subjective states?

Answer 15

Limited validity
Social desirability and self deception
Test characteristics

Question 16

What are possible solutions for the limitations of measuring subjective states?

Answer 16

Inclusion of desirability scales
complementary tests
interviews