A Paper on Motivation Quiz | Humanities

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. One of the most important theories (according to many experts) is Abraham Maslow's 'Hierarchy of Needs' theory. He categorised needs into various components; how many?

Answer: 5

The five needs a man has (1) Physiological (2) Safety & Security (3) Social (4) Esteem and (5) Self-Actualisation. These needs are arranged on the basis of priority i.e. an individual would need to meet his Physiological needs before he went to his Security need etc.

("A Theory of Human Motivation", Psychological Review Vol 50, No 4, July 1943.)

2. According to Maslow, after all other needs are met; an individual has "a need to focus on self-fulfillment". How did Maslow term this need?

Answer: Self-Actualisation

This need is on top of Maslow's hierarchy - it is basically the need to 'do as best as I can". One of the major problems with Maslow's theory (with respect to Human Resource manager in a firm) was that it didn't provide a solution for compensation - as in one didn't know the weightage an individual gave to accomplishment of his needs etc.

("A Theory of Human Motivation", Psychological Review (Vol 50, No 4, July 1943)

3. Another important theory was the "Two - Factor" theory, in which the motivation is measured on two factors - the 'Motivators' and the 'Hygiene' factor. Who proposed this theory?

Answer: Frederick Herzberg

Both these factors were on a continuum, with one end being totally satisfied (with respect to the conditions on that factor) and the other end being totally dissatisfied. Herzberg places more importance on 'Hygiene' motivating factors.

("The Motivation to Work", John Wiley & Sons Inc, 1959)

4. The 'Mature theory' places the human being on a continuum - one end being the immature - infant end and the other being the mature- adult end. Which theorist proposed the concept of the 'Mature' human being as a way of motivating an individual?

Answer: Chris Argyris

Argyris was of the opinion that most organisations are structured and managed in such a way that infant-like behaviour is necessary for retention and success (he cites the examples of Orders, Plans, Procedures etc which assume that the individual can't take 'mature' steps on his own).

"Personality and Organisation", Harper & Row Publishers Inc (1957)

5. According to the 'Mature' theory; when an individual is faced with the incongruity or when there is a collision between the organisational demands and 'mature' human needs, he will behave or engage himself in three different ways. Which of the following is NOT one of them?

Answer: Sleep

According to Argyris, one 'escapes' by quitting his job, absenting from work etc. He can 'attack' by deliberate misconduct, open rebellion etc or he can 'adapt' to the requirement by modifying his requirements, needs and behaviour.

("Personality and Organisation", Harper & Row Publishers Inc (1957) )

6. Another important concept is the 'N-Ach' theory or 'N-Achievement' theory. According to this theory, an individual has three needs - achievement, power and affiliation. Who proposed this theory first?

Answer: McClelland

McClelland proposed this theory to explain the type of managers that a firm would need. People with high achievement need were found to be people who were independent at a very young age. On the basis of these needs, McClelland classified managers as (1) Institutional (2) Personal-power (3) Affiliation.

7. On to some 'process' theories... An important process theory is the 'Expectancy' theory which states "motivation is directly to an individual's perception of three factors: Expectancy, Instrumentality and Valence". Who proposed this theory first?

Answer: Victor Vroom

Expectancy is "the probability (perception) that effort will lead to performance"; Instrumentality is "perception that the performance will lead to certain outcomes" and Valence is "the value attached to each outcome".

8. The 'Equity' theory states that a person's motivation depends on how he perceives he is being treated with respect to people in similar positions i.e. whether he is treated on par with similar employees or whether he is under rewarded or over rewarded. Who formulated the 'equity' theory?

Answer: J. Stacey Adams

In Simple terms, an employee is happy only when equity is achieved; over reward and under reward can both have its own harmful consequences. Kindly note that this is dependent on the individual's perceptions and he may even perceive himself as under rewarded when he is actually better off than this counterparts.

9. B. F Skinner proposed a theory which stated that "if a manager wants to elicit a desired behaviour or response from an employee, the manager must reinforce that behaviour". This can be done through various ways. What is this theory better known as?

Answer: 'Reinforcement' theory

According to Skinner, stimulus (1) leads to a particular behaviour (2), which had its own consequences (3), which determine future behaviour (4).

("Beyond Freedom and Dignity", Alfred A.Knopf Inc (1971) )

10. Douglas McGregor proposed the concepts of "Theory X" and "Theory Y" managers.

Answer: True

Theory X states that managers consider their sub-ordinates as "lazy, incompetent who has to be pushed by the carrot or stick policy to get things done". The employee will try and avoid responsibility.

Theory Y, on the other hands, considers all employees as people with initiative and that they will exercise self-direction and self-control in the service of the organisational objectives. It also states that the employee will not only accept but also seeks responsibility.

("The Human Side of Enterprise", McGraw-Hill Book Company (1960) )

Source: Author ace_sodium

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A Paper on Motivation Trivia Quiz

Over the years, psychologists have tried to explain 'motivation' using a lot of theories. Some of the more important ones...

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