Abstract (eng)
The present „achievement motivation literature“ is characterized by heterogenic definitions and operationalizations, a fact that makes it difficult to integrate the results of different studies on a more global level (Elliot & Dweck, 2005). The aim of the present study was to draw a comprehensive comparison between the two in current research most commonly used coding systems for implicit achievement motive, and to contribute to the development of an integrative, objective, reliable und valid research instrument for measuring achievement motivation. The coding system by Heckhausen (1963) was compared with the system by Winter (1994), they were analyzed in respect of similarities and differences concerning content and structure, furthermore, correlation analyses of motive measures were conducted. Data has been derived during an extensive study, including Picture Story Exercise, at the University of Vienna in which 201 psychology students participated. Additionally, the training materials by Heckhausen (1963) were analyzed.
Findings in PSE stories suggest, that convergent validity of both coding systems, reaching a correlation of r = .36, is not satisfying. Beyond a moderate overlap, there has also been found evidence for distinct differences in structure and content of both systems. Above that, analyses of the training materials by Heckhausen (1963) and the PSE stories revealed quantitative and qualitative differences between both samples to which the coding systems responded in different ways. The reported differences between both coding systems and their specific strengths are discussed as groundwork for the future development of an adequate measuring instrument for implicit achievement motive. Furthermore, analysis of the training materials by Heckhausen (1963) revealed a substantial overlap between the measures “Fear of Failure” by Heckhausen (1963) and “Power” by Winter (1994), which reached a correlation of r = .55 in statistic analysis. This and other findings are discussed as possible focus for future research.
The results give further evidence to the finding that there is a lack of a broadly articulated, consensually shared definition and operationalization of “achievement motivation” in current achievement motivation research.