Literature Review Report
1. Research Findings – What did the researchers discover or prove? (1 page).
One of the main outcomes which supported Self Determination Theory (SDT), in that the researchers found that the more an individual is motivated by extrinsic rewards, the less intrinsic motivation is likely to stimulate creativity. Conversely if extrinsic motivation is low, the relationship between intrinsic motivation and creativity is positive and strong.
From a different perspective, the results show that the more an individual is motivated by intrinsic rewards, the less extrinsic motivation is likely to stimulate creativity. Conversely if intrinsic motivation is low, the relationship between intrinsic motivation and creativity is positive and strong.
Significantly, high intrinsic motivation and high extrinsic motivation does not lead to high level of creativity. The authors suggest that this may be a conflict in creative behaviours. Intrinsic motivation encourages time and cognitive effort in a direct that they as individual believe will yield a radical creative outcome (creativity that is vastly different to conventional solutions). Extrinsic motivations are likely to divert effort into following what their supervisor believes will yield a desired incremental outcome (creativity that make incremental improvements on existing solutions).
When working in a team, the research showed that a collaborative climate was more conducive to individual creativity than a competitive climate, and that introducing competition to a collaborative climate could be detrimental to creativity.
However, the researcher found that in intrinsic motivation is low, such as jobs that are not interesting or enjoyable, then extrinsic motivation may increase creativity.