OPERATIONALIZING DIRECTION AND LEVEL OF EFFORT AND TESTING THEIR RELATIONSHIPS TO INDIVIDUAL JOB-PERFORMANCE

Motivation has long been conceptualized in terms of direction and level of effort and persistence. However, insufficient field work has been done on operationalizing these components. Using 115 bank tellers this study tested whether direction and level of effort could be independently operationalized, and the extent to which each component uniquely accounted for individual job performance. Relevant situational and individual factors were controlled for prior to testing for the impact of direction and level of effort on performance. Results indicated that effort level and direction of effort are each important in explaining individual performance. Study limitations and implications for future research are discussed. © 1993 by Academic Press, Inc.