Learning goal orientation and creative performance : the differential mediating roles of challenge and enjoyment intrinsic motivations

Document Type

Journal article

Source Publication

Asia Pacific Journal of Management

Publication Date

9-2014

Volume

31

Issue

3

First Page

811

Last Page

834

Publisher

Springer New York LLC

Keywords

Learning goal orientation, Intrinsic motivation, Intellectual stimulation, Creative performance

Abstract

We develop a theoretical model to account for the effect of learning goal orientation on creative performance by distinguishing two dimensions of intrinsic motivation as mediators. Challenge intrinsic motivation is concerned with the interest in and excitement of solving problems and tackling complex tasks, whereas enjoyment intrinsic motivation is concerned with the enjoyment of task activities for self-expression and self-entertainment. Results from a sample of 189 Chinese employees support this model and show that learning goal orientation had significant positive relationships with both dimensions of intrinsic motivation, but only challenge intrinsic motivation was significantly related to creative performance and mediated the positive relationship between learning goal orientation and creative performance. As predicted, intellectual stimulation, a dimension of transformational leadership, showed a moderating effect, such that learning goal orientation was less strongly related to challenge intrinsic motivation when intellectual stimulation was high. In addition, a moderated mediation effect was found, such that the mediating effect of challenge intrinsic motivation for the relationship between learning goal orientation and creative performance was weaker when intellectual stimulation was high. No such moderation effect was found for enjoyment intrinsic motivation, providing further support for the differential roles of these two dimensions of intrinsic motivation.

DOI

10.1007/s10490-013-9367-3

Print ISSN

02174561

E-ISSN

15729958

Publisher Statement

Copyright © Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013

Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.

Full-text Version

Publisher’s Version

Language

English

Recommended Citation

Leung, K., Chen Tingting, & Chen, G. (2014). Learning goal orientation and creative performance: The differential mediating roles of challenge and enjoyment intrinsic motivations. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 31(3), 811-834. doi: 10.1007/s10490-013-9367-3

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