A profile approach to self-determination theory motivations at work

Article history: Received 17 April 2012 Available online 27 September 2012 Self-determination theory (SDT) posits the existence of distinct types of motivation (i.e., external, introjected, identified, integrated, and intrinsic). Research on these different types of motivation has typically adopted a variable-centered approach that seeks to understand how each motivation in isolation relates to employee outcomes. We extend this work by adopting cluster analysis in a person-centered approach to understanding howdifferent combinations or patterns ofmotivations relate to organizational factors. Results revealed five distinct clusters of motivation (i.e., low introjection,moderatelymotivated, low autonomy, self-determined, andmotivated) and that these clusters were differentially related to need satisfaction, job performance, and work environment perceptions. Specifically, the self-determined (i.e., high autonomous motivation, low external motivation) and motivated (i.e., high on all types of motivation) clusters had the most favorable levels of correlates; whereas the low autonomy (i.e., least self-determined) cluster had the least favorable levels of these variables. Published by Elsevier Inc.