Skip to main content
Article
The Role of Motivation in Complex Problem Solving
Psychology Faculty Research and Scholarship
  • C Dominik Guess, University of North Florida
  • Madison Lee Burger
  • Dietrich Dörner
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-1-2017
Disciplines
Abstract

Previous research on Complex Problem Solving (CPS) has primarily focused on cognitive factors as outlined below. The current paper discusses the role of motivation during CPS and argues that motivation, emotion, and cognition interact and cannot be studied in an isolated manner. Motivation is the process that determines the energization and direction of behavior (Heckhausen, 1991).

Three motivation theories and their relation to CPS are examined: McClelland’s achievement motivation, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, and Dörner’s needs as outlined in PSI-theory. We chose these three theories for several reasons. First, space forces us to be selective. Second, the three theories are among the most prominent motivational theories. Finally, they are need theories postulating severalmotivations and not just one. A thinking-aloud protocol is provided to illustrate the role of motivational and cognitive dynamics in CPS.

Comments

Originally published in Frontiers in Psychology May 2017

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00851

Creative Commons License
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0
Citation Information
C Dominik Guess, Madison Lee Burger and Dietrich Dörner. "The Role of Motivation in Complex Problem Solving" (2017)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/dominik-guess/4/