Description

The GalaMotives Motivation Assessment Scale (GMAS-30) is a psychometric instrument developed to systematically assess the fundamental motivational factors that influence individuals’ professional, academic, and personal development. Developed by S. Gala and R. Motta in 2020, the scale is intended for adults aged 18 years and older who have completed at least a high school education.

The GMAS-30 is designed for use in a variety of settings, including career counseling, organizational psychology, human resource management, coaching, educational guidance, and personal development programs. It provides a comprehensive assessment of motivational profiles, enabling professionals to identify the primary factors that drive behavior, decision-making, goal pursuit, and long-term performance.

The questionnaire consists of 30 items rated on a five-point Likert scale and typically requires 10–15 minutes to complete.

Analysis

The GMAS-30 evaluates motivation through four theoretically derived subscales, each representing a distinct motivational dimension:

  • Achievement Motivation (8 items): Assesses the individual’s desire to accomplish challenging goals, pursue excellence, and achieve high performance.
    • Example item: “I set challenging goals for myself.”
  • Social Recognition (7 items): Measures the importance individuals place on external recognition, appreciation, and acknowledgment from others.
    • Example item: “Being recognized by others is important to me.”
  • Autonomy (7 items): Evaluates the preference for independence, self-direction, and personal control over work and decision-making.
    • Example item: “I prefer to work independently.”
  • Intrinsic Satisfaction (8 items): Assesses the extent to which individuals are motivated by personal meaning, enjoyment, and internal fulfillment.
    • Example item: “I prioritize tasks that are personally meaningful to me.”

Together, these four dimensions provide a comprehensive motivational profile that can be used to better understand individual differences in achievement, career development, learning, and workplace behavior.

Objective

The primary objective of the GMAS-30 is to provide a reliable and valid assessment of the motivational factors that influence individual behavior and performance. Specifically, the instrument aims to:

  • Assess the relative importance of different motivational drivers.
  • Identify individuals’ dominant motivational profiles.
  • Support career guidance, personnel selection, employee development, and coaching interventions.
  • Examine the relationship between motivation and academic, professional, and personal success.
  • Facilitate research in organizational psychology, educational psychology, vocational counseling, and human resource management.

Scoring

The GMAS-30 is scored using a five-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 5 (Strongly Agree).

Scores are calculated separately for each subscale by summing participants’ responses:

  • Achievement Motivation: 8–40
  • Social Recognition: 7–35
  • Autonomy: 7–35
  • Intrinsic Satisfaction: 8–40

Interpretation is based on the percentage of the maximum possible score for each subscale:

  • 80–100%: Primary motivational driver
  • 60–79%: Strong motivational factor
  • 40–59%: Moderate motivational influence
  • Below 40%: Low motivational influence

Higher scores indicate stronger motivation within the corresponding dimension.

Statistical Analysis

Psychometric Properties

The GMAS-30 demonstrates excellent psychometric characteristics. Internal consistency reliability (Cronbach’s alpha) was reported as:

  • Achievement Motivation: α = .88
  • Social Recognition: α = .85
  • Autonomy: α = .83
  • Intrinsic Satisfaction: α = .87

Test–retest reliability over a three-month interval was r = .85, indicating strong temporal stability.

Validity

Construct validity was supported by a four-factor model, demonstrating good model fit (CFI = .93, RMSEA = .05).

Criterion validity was established through positive correlations with established motivational instruments, including:

  • Achievement Motivation Inventory (AMI): r = .68
  • Career Decision Self-Efficacy Scale (CDSE): r = .62

These findings indicate that the GMAS-30 effectively measures motivational constructs associated with achievement and career-related self-efficacy.

Administration Requirements

The GMAS-30 is intended for adults aged 18 years and older with at least a high school diploma. Administration and interpretation are recommended for professionals holding a degree in Psychology or an equivalent qualification, along with specialized training in psychometric assessment and psychological testing.

References

International References

Gala, S., & Motta, R. (2020). The GalaMotives Model: A New Approach to Motivation Assessment. Journal of Applied Psychology, 15(3), 210–225.

Additional References

Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2020). Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation from a Self-Determination Theory Perspective: Definitions, Theory, Practices, and Future Directions. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 61, 101860.

Schunk, D. H., Meece, J. R., & Pintrich, P. R. (2014). Motivation in Education: Theory, Research, and Applications (4th ed.). Pearson.

Kanfer, R., Frese, M., & Johnson, R. E. (2017). Motivation Related to Work: A Century of Progress. Journal of Applied Psychology, 102(3), 338–355.