The Psychological Spectrum
Individual differences in motivation and performance may be analyzed at
multiple, loosely coupled, levels of generality. These levels
reflect the time frame over which behavior is sampled. Over short time periods
(e.g. the milliseconds of an evoked potential study), situational constraints
are extremely important. As the sampling frame is increased (e.g., to the
seconds of a reaction time study), energetic components of motivation as well
as strategic tradeoffs of speed for accuracy become more important. At
somewhat longer sampling frames (e.g. the tens of minutes of a typical
psychology experiment), individual differences and situational demands for
sustaining performance take precedence. At even longer intervals, differential
sensitivities to positive and negative feedback affect task persistence and
choice. At much longer intervals, individual differences in preference affect
occupational choice and the allocation of time between alternative activities.
At all of these levels it is possible to distinguish between effects related to
resource availability and to resource allocation. Although an adequate theory
of motivation and performance should explain behavior at all of these levels,
motivational effects at intermediate time frames have been most frequently
examined. In particular, the focus of this chapter are those motivational
effects that can affect the link between thinking and doing within periods of
several minutes to several hours.
1) Levels of analysis and the psychological spectrum. Psychological phenomena
occur across at least 12 orders of temporal magnitude. Cognitive and
motivational theories at each frequency make use of directional and energetic
constructs. Outcome measures may be organized in terms of their temporal
resolution as well as their physiological emphasis. (Adapted from Revelle,
1989).