Long-term motivation and persistence. A literature review

Abstract

The theme for this literature review is long-term motivation and persistence, and specifically what types of motivation that leads to long-term motivation.

The purpose of this thesis is to investigate what research can tell us about long-term motivation, and what work organisations can learn from this. Specifically, the question I want to answer is: What types of motivation leads to long-term motivation and persistence?

The theoretical framework used is what is often referred to as content theories of motivation, and the five theories of motivation were presented: self-determination theory, flow theory, individual differences theories of intrinsic motivation, interest theories and goal theories.

The three research questions were:

1. What are the theoretical frameworks used in the research on long-term motivation and persistence? 2. Within these theories, what are the factors or types of motivation associated with long-term motivation and persistence? 3. What conclusions can be drawn from the research, and what can work organisations learn from it? The literature search ended with 13 articles being included in the review, and the main findings were:

• Self-determination theory is the most commonly used motivational theory used in research on long-term motivation. • The limited number of studies demands caution on the conclusions for which types of motivation leads to long-term motivation, but there was a pattern indicating that a associating between more self-determined forms of motivation and long-term motivation and persistence can be hypothesised. • Longitudinal research on long-term motivation is limited, and more research is needed.