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The Effects of Choice on Intrinsic Motivation and Related Outcomes: A Meta-Analysis of Research Findings

Publication ,  Journal Article
Patall, EA; Cooper, H; Robinson, JC
Published in: Psychological Bulletin
March 1, 2008

A meta-analysis of 41 studies examined the effect of choice on intrinsic motivation and related outcomes in a variety of settings with both child and adult samples. Results indicated that providing choice enhanced intrinsic motivation, effort, task performance, and perceived competence, among other outcomes. Moderator tests revealed the effect of choice on intrinsic motivation was stronger (a) for instructionally irrelevant choices compared to choices made between activities, versions of a task, rewards, and instructionally relevant options, (b) when 2 to 4 successive choices were given, (c) when rewards were not given after the choice manipulation, (d) when participants given choice were compared to the most controlling forms of control groups, (e) for children compared to adults, (f) for designs that yoked choice and control conditions compared to matched designs in which choice was reduced or designs in which nonyoked, nonmatched controls were used, and (g) when the experiment was conducted in a laboratory embedded in a natural setting. Implications for future research and applications to real-world settings are discussed. © 2008 American Psychological Association.

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Published In

Psychological Bulletin

DOI

ISSN

0033-2909

Publication Date

March 1, 2008

Volume

134

Issue

2

Start / End Page

270 / 300

Related Subject Headings

  • Social Psychology
  • Motivation
  • Humans
  • Choice Behavior
  • Achievement
  • 52 Psychology
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology
  • 1505 Marketing
 

Citation

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Patall, E. A., Cooper, H., & Robinson, J. C. (2008). The Effects of Choice on Intrinsic Motivation and Related Outcomes: A Meta-Analysis of Research Findings. Psychological Bulletin, 134(2), 270–300. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.134.2.270
Patall, E. A., H. Cooper, and J. C. Robinson. “The Effects of Choice on Intrinsic Motivation and Related Outcomes: A Meta-Analysis of Research Findings.” Psychological Bulletin 134, no. 2 (March 1, 2008): 270–300. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.134.2.270.
Patall EA, Cooper H, Robinson JC. The Effects of Choice on Intrinsic Motivation and Related Outcomes: A Meta-Analysis of Research Findings. Psychological Bulletin. 2008 Mar 1;134(2):270–300.
Patall, E. A., et al. “The Effects of Choice on Intrinsic Motivation and Related Outcomes: A Meta-Analysis of Research Findings.” Psychological Bulletin, vol. 134, no. 2, Mar. 2008, pp. 270–300. Scopus, doi:10.1037/0033-2909.134.2.270.
Patall EA, Cooper H, Robinson JC. The Effects of Choice on Intrinsic Motivation and Related Outcomes: A Meta-Analysis of Research Findings. Psychological Bulletin. 2008 Mar 1;134(2):270–300.

Published In

Psychological Bulletin

DOI

ISSN

0033-2909

Publication Date

March 1, 2008

Volume

134

Issue

2

Start / End Page

270 / 300

Related Subject Headings

  • Social Psychology
  • Motivation
  • Humans
  • Choice Behavior
  • Achievement
  • 52 Psychology
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology
  • 1505 Marketing