Motivation

10/3/2010

THE GOALS OF COGNITIVE                   

THEORIES ARE TO EXPLAIN 

THOUGHTS ABOUT EFFORT:

1.) the decision to expend effort

Lecturer: Cheryl “Nyahra” Gittens

2.) the level of effort to exert

3.) how effort can be made to persist 

over time

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Motivation, Perception, and 

Behavior

Expectancy Theory (Vroom)

A model that assumes motivational strength is determined 

by perceived probabilities of success.

Expectancy Theory

States that an individual tends to act in a certain way based 

on the expectation that the act will be followed by a given 

outcome and on the attractiveness of that outcome to the 

individual.

Key to the theory is understanding and managing employee 

goals and the linkages among and between effort, 

performance and rewards.

Expectancy: one’s subjective belief or expectation that one thing 

will lead to another.

A Basic Expectancy Model

One’s motivational strength increases as one’s perceived 

effort‐performance and performance‐reward probabilities 

increase the likelihood of obtaining a valued reward.

Effort: employee abilities and training/development

Performance: valid appraisal systems

Rewards (goals): understanding employee needs

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Copyright © 2005 Prentice Hall,

Inc. All rights reserved.

16–31

Motivation, Perception, and 

Behavior (cont’d)

Simplified Expectancy Model

Expectancy Relationships

Expectancy (effort‐performance linkage)

The perceived probability that an individual’s effort will result in 

a certain level of performance.

Instrumentality

The perception that a particular level of performance will result 

in attaining a desired outcome (reward).

Valence

The attractiveness/importance of the performance reward 

(outcome) to the individual.

Exhibit 16.10

Copyright © 2005 Prentice Hall,

Inc. All rights reserved.

16–32

Lecturer: Cheryl “Nyahra” Gittens

Contact: cheryl.gittens@cavehill.uwi.edu

Copyright © 2005 Prentice Hall,

Inc. All rights...