Activated Motivation: An Opportunity for HCI Research?

Abstract

Self-Determination Theory [7, 13, 14] is a decades-old, widely-validated macro-theory that describes human motivation. Generally, it defines motivation on a spectrum ranging from amotivation, or a lack of motivation, to extrinsic motivation driven by external factors like rewards, to intrinsic motivation associated with one’s internal enjoyment or interest. Moreover, the theory establishes the benefits of more internal forms of motivation: individuals acting with internal forms of motivation will tend to feel more open and curious, be more persistent, and are more likely to succeed at difficult tasks [8, 13, 14]. Indeed, these concepts have been widely validated, and have been shown to provide a practical framework for technology design [9]. However, researchers have also argued that current engagement with the theory is shallow [11, 12], particularly some of the concepts described in Self-Determination Theory’s ‘micro-theories’ [9].