Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 26, 2025
09:07
Experimental Research Examining How People Can Cope with Uncertainty Through Soft Haptic Sensations
Published on: September 16, 2015
9.2K
The Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Need Frustration at Work Scale: A Validation Study
Anja Hagen Olafsen1, Hallgeir Halvari1, Claus Wiemann Frølund1
1School of Business, University of South-Eastern Norway, Hønefoss, Norway.
Frontiers in Psychology
|August 2, 2021
Summary
This study adapted and validated a scale measuring psychological need satisfaction and frustration in the workplace, based on self-determination theory (SDT). The validated scale offers a reliable tool for future research on employee well-being and motivation.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Organizational Behavior
- Workplace Well-being
Background:
- Self-determination theory (SDT) is a prominent framework for understanding motivation.
- Psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness are central to SDT.
- Measuring these needs in the work domain is crucial for understanding employee engagement and performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To adapt and validate the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale for the work domain.
- To ensure the scale's reliability and validity across different cultural contexts.
- To provide a unified measurement tool for SDT research in organizational settings.
Main Methods:
- Confirmatory factor analyses were conducted on four independent samples (three Norwegian, one English).
- Multi-group analyses were performed to assess measurement invariance across samples and languages.
- Internal consistencies and criterion validity were evaluated using work-related correlates.
Main Results:
- The adapted six-factor work-related scale demonstrated a good fit with the data across all samples.
- Partial measurement invariance was achieved across different samples and languages.
- The scale's subscales showed acceptable internal consistencies and predicted relevant work-related outcomes, supporting criterion validity.
Conclusions:
- The validated scale provides a robust and reliable instrument for measuring psychological need satisfaction and frustration in the workplace.
- This research contributes a unified measurement tool to advance self-determination theory research in organizational psychology.
- The findings support the application of SDT principles to enhance employee well-being and work performance.
Related Concept Videos
02:45Self-Discrepancy Theory
18.6K
One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.
18.6K
01:27Need for Self-Esteem
49
The human need for self-esteem has long intrigued psychologists, leading to the development of several theories that explore its evolutionary and functional significance. Among the most influential are the sociometer, hierometer, and terror management theories. Each offers a unique perspective on why people strive for self-worth and how it shapes behavior and social interaction.Sociometer TheoryAccording to sociometer theory, self-esteem functions as an internal gauge of social acceptance. It...
49
01:27Maslow's Need Hierarchy Theory
620
Abraham Maslow's theory of motivation, introduced in 1943, is widely known as the "Hierarchy of Needs." This theory posits that human needs are arranged in a hierarchical structure, starting with basic survival needs and progressing toward more complex psychological and self-fulfillment desires. The hierarchy is typically a pyramid, and the lower needs must be satisfied to reach the next level.
At the pyramid's base are physiological needs, including food, water, and shelter...
At the pyramid's base are physiological needs, including food, water, and shelter...
620
01:28Maslow's Theory of Basic Human Needs
2.5K
Maslow's hierarchy is described with the help of a pyramidal shape. The most fundamental needs, physiological needs, are at the bottom of the pyramid.
Physiological needs such as hunger, thirst, sex, physical comfort, and survival are at the bottom of the pyramid. These are the components that are necessary to sustain life. Once the first level of needs has been met, the second level arises.
Safety needs include stability and predictability. Protection and freedom from danger are all a part...
Physiological needs such as hunger, thirst, sex, physical comfort, and survival are at the bottom of the pyramid. These are the components that are necessary to sustain life. Once the first level of needs has been met, the second level arises.
Safety needs include stability and predictability. Protection and freedom from danger are all a part...
2.5K
01:17Ryan and Deci's Self-Determination Theory
13.7K
Self-Determination Theory (SDT), formulated by Richard Ryan and Edward Deci, explains that human motivation is driven by three fundamental psychological needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. When these needs are met, individuals experience personal growth, intrinsic motivation, and overall well-being.
Autonomy is the need to feel in control of one's actions and decisions. For example, a student who chooses their research topic is likely to be more engaged and motivated than one who...
Autonomy is the need to feel in control of one's actions and decisions. For example, a student who chooses their research topic is likely to be more engaged and motivated than one who...
13.7K
01:27Sources of Self-Esteem III: Social Comparison
57
Social comparison plays a fundamental role in the evaluation of personal success and self-worth. Rather than assessing our achievements in isolation, we interpret their significance relative to personal goals and critically in comparison to the performance of others. A grade of B in a mathematics exam might elicit pride if one's expectation was a C, yet result in disappointment if an A was anticipated or if peers achieved superior results. These comparative evaluations illustrate how both...
57