British Journal of Social Psychology · 2007 · 381 citations · 38 references
Social SciencesBehavioral SciencesPsychologyExperimental PsychologyIndividual DifferencesPersonality PsychologyAutonomyGame-based LearningLearner AutonomyMotivationMotivation In LearningAdditive Main Effects AnalysisAutonomy In LearningControl Group DesignDigital Game-based LearningExperimental MethodologyMain EffectsPsychological Needs SatisfactionRelatedness Need Satisfaction
Self‑report correlational data support SDT’s claim that autonomy, competence, and relatedness needs combine additively to predict well‑being, yet experimental work has focused only on autonomy support, leaving relatedness and competence understudied. The study employed a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design in a game‑learning context to test how autonomy, competence, and relatedness support influence need satisfaction, mood, motivation, and objective performance. Participants were exposed to different levels of autonomy, competence, and relatedness support within the game, and their need satisfaction, mood, motivation, and performance were measured. Competence and relatedness support produced main effects on most outcomes, with need satisfaction mediating these effects, and neutral control data showing that thwarting needs has a stronger impact than enhancing them, thereby supporting SDT’s key postulates.
Self-report correlational data support self-determination theory's (SDT's) postulate that there are three basic psychological needs, for autonomy, competence, and relatedness, which combine additively to predict well-being and thriving. However, experimental research in the SDT tradition has focused only on autonomy support, not relatedness and competence support. To fill this gap, we employed a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial design within a game-learning experience to predict rated need satisfaction, mood, and motivation, and also objective game performance. Manipulated competence and relatedness support had main effects on most outcomes. Rated competence, relatedness, and autonomy need satisfaction also predicted the outcomes, and the significant experimental main effects were all mediated by the corresponding rated variables. Neutral control group data showed that thwarting participants' needs is more impactful than enhancing them. These findings offer new support for key postulates of SDT, while integrating the correlational and experimental traditions in this area.
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