A Conditional Reasoning Approach to Measuring Relative Achievement Motivation: Validation Results from an Applied Setting

Author

Darren H. F. Smith, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Date of Award

5-1996

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Industrial and Organizational Psychology

Major Professor

Lawrence R. James

Committee Members

Tom Ladd, John Lounsbury, Mike Smith, Greg Dobbins

Abstract

This study presents the first attempt to validate a new approach to measuring an individual's relative achievement motivation in an applied setting. The new measurement approach which utilizes conditional reasoning differs from other self-report measures in that it capitalizes on the respondent's subjective processes of interpreting and framing information and developing a causal model to explain the information they are presented with in order to arrive at a logical conclusion. In this study, relative achievement motivation as measured by the Conditional Reasoning Test was not found to be related to individual patrol officer activities. However, a number of patrol officer activities were found to be significantly and positively related to the relative achievement motivation of their respective supervisors. In addition, supervisors with a relative fear of failure orientation were found to provide more lenient ratings of their subordinates. Implications of these findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Recommended Citation

Smith, Darren H. F., "A Conditional Reasoning Approach to Measuring Relative Achievement Motivation: Validation Results from an Applied Setting. " PhD diss., University of Tennessee, 1996.
https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss/6853