Relationship of personality to performance motivation: a meta-analytic review

J Appl Psychol. 2002 Aug;87(4):797-807. doi: 10.1037/0021-9010.87.4.797.

Abstract

This article provides a meta-analysis of the relationship between the five-factor model of personality and 3 central theories of performance motivation (goal-setting, expectancy, and self-efficacy motivation). The quantitative review includes 150 correlations from 65 studies. Traits were organized according to the five-factor model of personality. Results indicated that Neuroticism (average validity = -.31) and Conscientiousness (average validity = .24) were the strongest and most consistent correlates of performance motivation across the 3 theoretical perspectives. Results further indicated that the validity of 3 of the Big Five traits--Neuroticism, Extraversion, and Conscientiousness--generalized across studies. As a set, the Big Five traits had an average multiple correlation of .49 with the motivational criteria, suggesting that the Big Five traits are an important source of performance motivation.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis

MeSH terms

  • Employee Performance Appraisal
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Models, Psychological*
  • Motivation*
  • Neurotic Disorders / psychology
  • Occupations*
  • Personality*
  • Task Performance and Analysis