Abstract
The title identifies a confrontation between two ways of thinking about the very same behavioral phenomena that has been going on for some time. But now motivational psychology has caught up with test theory in the clarity, completeness, and coherence of a mathematical model of motivation and action called the dynamics of action (Atkinson & Birch, 1970, 1974, 1978). The next decade should produce a new understanding of the proper relationship between test theory, which is grounded in statistical considerations, and the new theory of motivation, which is grounded in more than a quarter of a century of research on the problem and psychological considerations.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
American College Testing Program. Assessing students on the way to college. Technical Report for the ACT Assessment Program. Iowa City, Iowa: Author, 1973.
Angoff, W.H. (Ed.). The college hoard admissions testing program. A technical report on research and development activities relating to the Scholastic Aptitude Test and Achievement rests. N.Y.: College Entrance Board, 1971.
Atkinson, J.W. Motivational determinants of intellective performance and cumulative achievement. In J.W. Atkinson & J.O. Raynor (Eds.), Motivation and achievement. Washington, D.C.: V.H. Winston & Sons, 1974 (a).
Atkinson, J.W. Strength of motivation and efficiency of performance. In J.W. Atkinson & J.O. Raynor (Eds.), Motivation and achievement. Washington, D.C.: V.H. Winston & Sons, 1974 (h).
Atkinson, J.W., & Birch, D. The dynamics of action. N.Y.: Wiley, 1970.
Atkinson, J.W., & Birch, D. The dynamics of achievement-oriented activity. In J.W. Atkinson & J.O. Raynor (Eds.), Motivation and achievement. Washington, D.C.: V.H. Winston & Sons, 1974.
Atkinson, J.W., & Birch, D. An introduction to motivation: Revised edition. N.Y.: Van Nostrand, 1978.
Atkinson, J.W., Bongort, K., & Price, L.H. Explorations using computer simulation to comprehend “thematic apperceptive” measurement of motivation. Motivation and Emotion, 1977, 1, 1–27.
Atkinson, J.W., & Feather, N.T. (Eds.). A theory of achievement motivation. N.Y.: Wiley, 1966.
Atkinson, J.W., Lens, W., & O’Malley, P.M. Motivation and ability: Interactive psychological determinants of intellective performance, educational achievement and each other. In W.H. Sewell, R.M. Hauser, & D.L. Feather-man (Eds.), Schooling and achievement in American society. N.Y.: Academic Press, 1976.
Atkinson, J.W., & Raynor, J.O. Motivation and achievement. Washington, D.C.: V.H. Winston (Haisted Press/Wiley), 1974.
Atkinson, J.W., & Raynor, J.O. Personality, motication, and achievement. Washington, D.C.: Hemisphere (Halsted Press/Wiley), 1978.
Birch, H.G. The role of motivational factors in insightful problem-solving. Journal of Comparative Psychology. 1945, 38, 317–395.
Broadhurst, P.L. The interaction of task difficulty and motivation: The Yerkes-Dodson Law revived. Acta Psychologica, 1959, 15, 321–338.
College Board. On further examination: Report of the advisory panel on the scholastic aptitude test score decline. N.Y.: College Entrance Examination Board, 1977, p. 75.
deVilliers, P.A., & Herrnstein, R.J. Toward a law of response strength. Psychological Bulletin, 1976, 83, 1131–1153.
Entwisle, D.R. To dispel fantasies about fantasy-based measures of achievement motivation. Psychological Bulletin, 1972, 77, 377–391.
Eysenck, H.J. Personality and experimental psychology. British Psychological Society Bulletin, 1966, 19(62), 1–28.
Hebb, D.O. Textbook of psychology (3rd ed.). Philadelphia: Saunders, 1972.
Horner, M.S. Ehe measurement and behavioral implications of fear of success in women. In J.W. Atkinson, & J.O. Raynor (Eds.), Motivation and achievement. Washington, D.C.: V.H. Winston (Halsted Press/Wiley), 1974.
Raynor, J.W. Future orientation and motivation of immediate activity: An elaboration of the theory of achievement motivation. Psychological Review, 1969, 76, 606–610.
Raynor, J.W. Future orientation and motivation of immediate activity: An elaboration of the theory of achievement motivation. In J.W. Atkinson & J.O. Raynor (Eds.), Motivation and achievement. Washington, D.C.: V.H. Winston & Sons, 1974.
Raynor, J.W. Future orientation and motivation of immediate activity: An elaboration of the theory of achievement motivation. In J.W. Atkinson & J.O. Raynor (Eds.), Personality, motivation, and achievement. Washington, D.C.: Hemisphere (Halsted Press/Wiley), 1978.
Revel le, W., Amaral, P., & Turiff, S. Introversion/extroversion, time stress, and caffeine: The effect on verbal performance. Science, 1976, 192, 149–150.
Sawusch, J.R. Computer simulation of the influence of ability and motivation on test performance and cumulative achievement. In J.W. Atkinson & J.O. Raynor (Eds.), Motivation and achievement. Washington, D.C.: V.H. Winston (Halsted Press/Wiley), 1974.
Thorndike, R.L. The concepts of over- and under-achievement. N.Y.: Columbia University Bureau of Publications, Teachers College, 1963.
Yerkes, R.M., & Dodson, J.D. The relation of strength of stimulus to rapidity of habit formation. Journal of Comparative and Neurological Psychology, 1908, 18, 459–482.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1980 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Atkinson, J.W. (1980). Motivational Effects in So-Called Tests of Ability and Educational Achievement. In: Fyans, L.J. (eds) Achievement Motivation. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-8997-3_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-8997-3_2
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-8999-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-8997-3
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive