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Work Motivation
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Work Motivation
History, Theory, Research, and Practice

Second Edition


December 2011 | 456 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
A seminal work in the field of motivation by the leading author on the topic, this classic has been fully revised and updated to include and distill the most current research from top international scholars. Drawing upon his experiences as a staff psychologist and consultant, Gary P. Latham writes in a mentor voice that is highly personal and rich in examples, providing a unique behavioral science framework for motivating employees in organizational settings. The book offers a chronological review of the field, and a taxonomy for the study and practice of motivation, complete with anecdotes about the major thought leaders in the field of motivation and behind-the-scenes research accounts. Highlights of this updated edition include new findings in goal-setting research, including insight into the dark side of goal-setting; more on the self in motivation, including self-regulated learning, self-evaluation methods, and the significance of self-efficacy as a predictor of performance and satisfaction; and more trending in the area of positive psychology and prosocial behavior in organizations.

 
Preface and Acknowledgments: Person-Environment Fit
 
Introduction: Thirteen Critical Incidents in the Life of a Scientist-Practitioner
 
PART I: THE 20TH CENTURY: UNDERSTANDING THE PAST
 
Chapter 1: 1900–1925: Biology, Behavior, and Money
 
Chapter 2: 1925–1950: Dust Bowl Empiricism
 
Chapter 3: 1950–1975: The Emergence of Theory
 
Chapter 4: 1975–2000: The Employee Is Immersed in Thought
 
Chapter 5: 20th-Century Controversies
 
PART II: THE 21ST CENTURY: EXAMINING THE PRESENT: 2000–2010
 
Chapter 6: Needs: The Starting Point of Motivation
 
Chapter 7: Personality Traits: Distal Predictors of Motivation
 
Chapter 8: Values: Trans-Situational Goals
 
Chapter 9: Cognition: Goals, Feedback, and Self-Regulation
 
Chapter 10: Social Cognitive Theory
 
Chapter 11: Affect/Emotion: The Employee Has Feelings Too
 
PART III: FUTURE DIRECTIONS AND POTENTIAL MISDIRECTIONS
 
Chapter 12: Boundaryless Psychology
 
PART IV: EPILOGUE
 
Chapter 13: The Art of Practice

This is a very good revision of the literature on work motivation. An essential book for students who want to deep their knowledge on this topic.

Dr Isabel Dimas
Economics, University of Coimbra
January 22, 2021

Very good overview of motivation theories. Appropriate for master's students.

Dr Isabel Dimas
Economics, University of Coimbra
May 22, 2020

A small reference book that is easy to follow and packed full of useful theories around motivation. Current and easy to find your way around the index.

Mrs Laura Castles
Management, Torfaen Training
November 29, 2019

An excellent book, well written and accessible. Some small updates and enjoyed the inclusion of attachment styles

Mr Gary Pheiffer
School of Psychology, London Metropolitan University
November 30, 2015

I originally looked at this for our ERM course but it finished in 2014. HOwever, I now recommend this to students on our Social Psychology of Work (undergraduate L5 option) who want to look at work motivation in more detail. It is a very thorough text

Mr Neill Thompson
School of Psychology and Sport Science, Northumbria University
April 16, 2015

A great book that covers many theories. We took this text on our residential for students to prepare presentations on motivation

Mrs Nikki Southgate
CHILDCARE AND HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE, Central Bedfordshire College
February 18, 2015

Great book, contains many anecdotes as well as detailing the evidence base. Interestingly structured in terms of a timeline. Only irritation is the vast number of footnotes, which sometimes take 2/3 of the page.

Dr Manda Branson
Sch of Psychology & Clinical Lang Sci, Reading University
August 28, 2015

I have recommended this book to several of my students. It provides an excellent overview of the theoretical underpinnings of employee motivation and job satisfaction.

Miss Moya Lerigo-Jones
Faculty of Social Science and Business, University of Plymouth
October 24, 2013

This is the best text on motivation theories that I have found. It is easy for the students to understand.

Professor Constance Thompson
Psychology Dept, Edgewood College
September 2, 2013

This is an excellent book on motivation but does not fit into my present modules.

Dr Chuma Osuchukwu
Postgraduate Faculty, London School of Business and Management
November 24, 2012

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