How evaluation and need for structure affect motivation and creativity |
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Authors: | J.M. Slijkhuis Eric F. Rietzschel Nico W. Van Yperen |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Psychology , University of Groningen , Groningen , The Netherlands j.m.slijkhuis@rug.nl;3. Department of Psychology , University of Groningen , Groningen , The Netherlands |
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Abstract: | Research has shown that evaluation can have negative effects when it is perceived as controlling rather than informational. We hypothesized that Personal Need for Structure (PNS) would moderate the effects of (perceptions of) evaluative situations. Specifically, we expected that informational evaluative situations would be associated with higher motivation and higher creative performance than controlling evaluative situations, but only when PNS is low. In a field study (N = 53) and an experiment (N = 72), we showed consistently across samples, methods, and outcomes that the positive effects ofinformational evaluation only existed for individuals who were low in PNS. These findings support the reasoning that high PNS individuals tend to welcome any type of feedback because of its disambiguating potential. |
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Keywords: | Autonomy Electronic performance monitoring Feedback style Innovative behaviour Tolerance for ambiguity |
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