Work motivation scale: MWMS and how to use it

Work motivation is the set of reasons why employees put effort into their work. Deci and Ryan's self-determination theory distinguishes motivation by degree of autonomy: from amotivation, to external regulation for material or social reasons, introjected regulation, identified regulation, and intrinsic motivation. The MWMS of Gagné et al. (2015) was validated in 7 languages and 9 countries under this structure. Common thesis topics in Vietnam include the work motivation of office workers, civil servants, and healthcare staff, and the effects of pay and leadership.

Comparing the scales

Items of each scale

Original English wording from the published source. Replace placeholders such as [system] or [brand] with what your study is about, and pilot the questionnaire with 20 to 30 respondents first.

Intrinsic Motivation (IM) · Work motivation scale (MWMS)

Code	Item
IM1	Because I have fun doing my job.
IM2	Because what I do in my work is exciting.
IM3	Because the work I do is interesting.

Source: Gagné et al. (2015). Response scale, licence and APA reference: Work motivation scale (MWMS).

Use in the survey kit Open all of Work motivation scale (MWMS) (6 constructs)

Identified Regulation (ID) · Work motivation scale (MWMS)

Code	Item
ID1	Because I personally consider it important to put efforts in this job.
ID2	Because putting efforts in this job aligns with my personal values.
ID3	Because putting efforts in this job has personal significance to me.

Source: Gagné et al. (2015). Response scale, licence and APA reference: Work motivation scale (MWMS).

Use in the survey kit

Introjected Regulation (IJ) · Work motivation scale (MWMS)

Code	Item
IJ1	Because I have to prove to myself that I can.
IJ2	Because it makes me feel proud of myself.
IJ3	Because otherwise I will feel ashamed of myself.
IJ4	Because otherwise I will feel bad about myself.

Source: Gagné et al. (2015). Response scale, licence and APA reference: Work motivation scale (MWMS).

Use in the survey kit

Extrinsic Regulation – Material (EMA) · Work motivation scale (MWMS)

Code	Item
EMA1	Because others will reward me financially only if I put enough effort in my job (e.g., employer, supervisor …).
EMA2	Because others offer me greater job security if I put enough effort in my job (e.g., employer, supervisor …).
EMA3	Because I risk losing my job if I don't put enough effort in it.

Source: Gagné et al. (2015). Response scale, licence and APA reference: Work motivation scale (MWMS).

Use in the survey kit

Extrinsic Regulation – Social (ESO) · Work motivation scale (MWMS)

Code	Item
ESO1	To get others' approval (e.g., supervisor, colleagues, family, clients …).
ESO2	Because others will respect me more (e.g., supervisor, colleagues, family, clients …).
ESO3	To avoid being criticized by others (e.g., supervisor, colleagues, family, clients …).

Source: Gagné et al. (2015). Response scale, licence and APA reference: Work motivation scale (MWMS).

Use in the survey kit

Amotivation (AM) · Work motivation scale (MWMS)

Code	Item
AM1	I don't, because I really feel that I'm wasting my time at work.
AM2	I do little because I don't think this work is worth putting efforts into.
AM3	I don't know why I'm doing this job, it's pointless work.

Source: Gagné et al. (2015). Response scale, licence and APA reference: Work motivation scale (MWMS).

Use in the survey kit

Tips

• The MWMS uses the lead-in 'Why do you or would you put efforts into your current job?' and a 7-point scale from 'Not at all' to 'Completely'. Put the lead-in at the start of the section.
• You do not need all 6 components. Choose according to your hypotheses; for example, a pay thesis might use EMA, IM, and ID.
• Do not sum all components into one overall motivation score because they have different meanings, even opposite directions.

Once you have a scale, put the concept in the research model drawer to state your hypotheses, work out the minimum sample size, and after data collection check reliability with the Cronbach's alpha calculator.

Frequently asked questions

Should I measure work motivation with the MWMS or a two-factor theory scale?

Many theses in Vietnam measure the factors that create motivation (pay, colleagues, supervisor) following Herzberg or Kovach. These are drivers, not motivation itself. The MWMS measures motivation itself and the reasons for working under self-determination theory.

How many items does the MWMS have?

19 items in 6 components: amotivation (3), external regulation by social reasons (3), by material reasons (3), introjected regulation (4), identified regulation (3), intrinsic motivation (3).

Can components be combined into autonomous and controlled motivation?

Yes. Gagné et al. suggest combining intrinsic motivation and identified regulation into autonomous motivation, and introjected and external regulation into controlled motivation. State how you combined them in the methods chapter.