Developing and testing a dynamic model of the proximal and distal motivational processes responsible for the regulation of task-directed effort. (2008-2010)

Motivation is one of the most widely studied concepts in psychology, yet there is a mismatch between the level of analysis inherent in motivation theory, and the level at which it is studied. Theoretically, motivation is a dynamic process that operates within individuals over time. However, most studies examine variability in motivation between people rather than variability within people. Our project will examine how motivation changes over time and why the rate of change varies for different people in different contexts. It will thus improve our understanding of the dynamics of motivational processes.