Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

The effects of ego-involvement instructions (EI_S) were investigated in two studies. In Exp. I, EI_S had no significant effect on a response measure of ego-involvement (EI_n) nor on RT and paired-associate verbal learning. Anxiety, as measured by the MAS, and n achievement, as measured by the EPPS, did not significantly correlate with any of the measures, but a significant effect was found for EI_R when anxiety and EI_S were analyzed in a 2 × 2 design. When more extreme EI_S were used in Exp. II, EI_S had a significant effect on EI_R and verbal learning: higher EI_R ratings were obtained for high than low EI_S and, for Ss receiving a low response-competition list, fewer errors were made under high than low EI_S.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Alper

T. G.

Task-orientation vs. ego-orientation in learning and retention. American Journal of Psychology, 1946, 59, 236–248.

Costello

C. G.

Ego-involvement, success and failure: a review of the literature. In Eysenck

H. J.

(Ed.), Experiments in motivation. London: Pergamon Press, 1964. Pp. 161–208.

Edwards

A. S.

Manual: Edwards Personal Preference Schedule. New York: Psychological Corp., 1954.

Ferguson

E. D.

An investigation of ego-involvement using a transitivity test. Paper presented at the meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, May, 1961.

Ferguson

E. D.

Ego-involvement: a critical examination of some methodological issues. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 1962, 64, 407–417.

Holt

R. R.

Effects of ego-involvement upon levels of aspiration. Psychiatry, 1945, 8, 299–317.

Irwin

R. W.

Mintzer

M. G.

Effect of differences in instructions and motivation upon measures of the level of aspiration. American Journal of Psychology, 1942, 55, 400–406.

Iverson

M. A.

Reuder

M. E.

Ego-involvement as an experimental variable. Psychological Reports, 1956, 2, 147–181. (Monogr. Suppl. 4-V2)

Kausler

D. H.

A study of the relationship between ego-involvement and learning. Journal of Psychology, 1951, 32, 225–230.

10.

Mace

K. C.

Ego involvement in a hedonic situation with disconfirmed expectancies. Dissertation Abstracts, 1968, 29, 1496–1497.

11.

Romanow

C. V.

Anxiety level and ego involvement as factors in concept formation. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1958, 56, 166–173.

12.

Sarason

I. G.

Effect of anxiety and two kinds of motivating instructions on verbal learning. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 1957, 54, 166–171.

13.

Shedd

C. L.

Angelino

H. R.

The effect of ego-involvement on learning. Proceedings of the Oklahoma Academy of Sciences, 1952, 33, 285–288.

14.

Spence

K. W.

Taylor

J. A.

Ketchel

Anxiety (drive) level and degree of competition in paired-associates learning. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1956, 52, 306–310.

15.

Taylor

J. A.

A personality scale of manifest anxiety. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 1953, 48, 285–290.

16.

Taylor

J. A.

Drive theory and manifest anxiety. Psychological Bulletin, 1956, 53, 303–320.

17.

Taylor

J. A.

Chapman

J. P.

Paired-associate learning as related to anxiety. American Journal of Psychology, 1955, 68, 671.

18.

Underwood

B. J.

Runquist

W. N.

Schulz

R. W.

Response learning in paired-associate lists as a function of intralist similarity. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1959, 58, 70–78.

19.

Wenar

Reaction time as a function of manifest anxiety and stimulus intensity. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 1954, 49, 335–340.

20.

Wolf

Ford

Cogan

The effect of instructions upon Necker cube reversal. Psychonomic Science, 1967, 8, 399–400.

21.

Worell

EPPS n achievement and verbal paired-associates learning. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 1960, 60, 147–150.

Relationship between Ego-Involvement Instructions and Various Motivation and Performance Measures

Abstract

Get full access to this article

References