Effort: The Role of Motivation in Human Performance
Motivation is an important factor in determining human performance, and effort is a key component of motivation. This article will discuss the role of effort in motivation and its influence on performance. The literature review will discuss the definition of effort, the different types of effort, and the factors that influence effort. The discussion section will focus on the implications of effort on performance in a variety of contexts, with a particular focus on educational and workplace settings. Finally, the conclusion will summarize the findings and propose areas for future research.
Definition of Effort
Effort is defined as the psychological energy and attention expended by individuals to engage in an activity or task (Gardner, Amabile, & Herron, 2018). Effort is often seen as the opposite of ease, where effort requires additional investment of time and resources. The concept of effort has been studied in the context of many different disciplines, including psychology, economics, and management (Gardner et al., 2018).
Types of Effort
Effort can be classified into two broad categories: effort investment and effort expenditure (Gardner et al., 2018). Effort investment refers to the amount of time and resources invested in a task, such as studying for an exam or researching for a project. Effort expenditure refers to the actual amount of energy and focus that is put into the task, such as the intensity of concentration that is used during the task.
Factors Influencing Effort
Many factors influence the amount of effort that an individual is willing to expend. These factors can include intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, situational factors, and individual differences (Gardner et al., 2018). Intrinsic motivation refers to the desire to engage in a task because of personal interest or enjoyment, such as playing a sport for fun or taking a class because it is interesting. Extrinsic motivation refers to the desire to engage in a task for some external reward or consequence, such as studying for a test to get a good grade or working hard to get a promotion. Situational factors, such as the difficulty of the task or the amount of time available, can also influence effort. Finally, individual differences, such as personality traits or cognitive abilities, can also affect effort expenditure.
Discussion
The amount of effort that an individual is willing to expend has implications for performance in a variety of contexts. In educational settings, effort can have a significant influence on school performance (Gardner et al., 2018). Students who invest more effort in their studies, through activities such as studying for tests or completing homework, tend to perform better academically than those who do not expend the same amount of effort. Similarly, in workplace settings, effort can be a major factor in determining the success of employees. Employees who invest more effort in their work, such as taking initiative or working hard to complete tasks, are more likely to be successful and receive promotions than those who do not put in the same amount of effort (Gardner et al., 2018).
Conclusion
This article has discussed the role of effort in motivation and its influence on performance. The literature review focused on the definition of effort, the different types of effort, and the factors that influence effort. The discussion section focused on the implications of effort on performance in a variety of contexts, with a particular focus on educational and workplace settings. The findings suggest that effort is an important factor in determining performance, and that individuals who invest more effort tend to be more successful in their pursuits. Further research is needed to explore the effects of effort on performance in other contexts, such as sports or artistic endeavors.
References
Gardner, W. L., Amabile, T. M., & Herron, M. (2018). The motivated brain: Understanding effort and its implications for performance. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 27(3), 198–204. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721417738922