"The Work Preference Inventory: Assessing Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivational Orientations" by Teresa M. Amabile, Karl G. Hill, Beth A. Hennessey, and Elizabeth M. Tighe

Summary

This research paper introduces the Work Preference Inventory (WPI), a tool designed to measure individual differences in intrinsic motivation (driven by interest and enjoyment) and extrinsic motivation (driven by external rewards like recognition or money). The authors, led by Teresa Amabile, detail the development and validation of the WPI for both students and working adults, demonstrating its meaningful factor structure, reliability, and relationship to other measures of motivation, personality, and even creativity. Ultimately, the paper argues for the importance of understanding these stable motivational orientations and suggests the WPI as a valuable instrument for research in personality, social psychology, and the study of factors influencing work behaviour and creative output.