Purpose: To assess whether individuals in a position of authority, whose job is, in part, to motivate others, tend to be oriented toward controlling the behavior of those others versus supporting their autonomy.
Source: http://selfdeterminationtheory.org/motivators-orientations-questionnaires/
Short description: The Problems in Schools Questionnaire and the Problems at Work Questionnaire were developed using the same format and the same basic concept. Each assesses whether individuals in a position of authority, whose job is, in part, to motivate others, tend to be oriented toward controlling the behavior of those others versus supporting their autonomy. The Problems in Schools Questionnaire (PIS) assesses whether teachers tend to be controlling versus autonomy supportive with their students. The Problems at Work Questionnaire (PAW) assesses whether managers tend to be controlling versus autonomy supportive with their employees.
Sample questions: Not available
Paid or free: Unknown
Reliability/validity measures: See studies mentioned below.
Setting:
- Education
- Workplace
Stakeholder(s):
- Educational institutions
- Workplaces
Type of measurement: Questionnaire
Possible uses: Evaluation of authority figures
Ease of implementation:
Advantages:
Drawbacks:
- Self-report
- Limited information on this instrument.
Studies this has been used in:
- Deci, E. L., Connell, J. P., & Ryan, R. M. (1989). Self-determination in a work organization. Journal of Applied Psychology, 74, 580-590.
- Deci, E. L., Schwartz, A. J., Sheinman, L., & Ryan, R. M. (1981). An instrument to assess adults’ orientations toward control versus autonomy with children: Reflections on intrinsic motivation and perceived competence. Journal of Educational Psychology, 73,642-650.
- Reeve, J., Bolt, E., & Cai, Y. (1999). Autonomy-supportive teachers: How they teach and motivate students. Journal of Educational Psychology, 91, 537-54.