Study Sheldon & Elliot (1999): study US 1994

Public

18+ aged, students USA, followed 3 months,199?

Sample

Respondents

N = 169

Non Response

Assessment

Questionnaire: Paper & Pencil Interview (PAPI)
T1+T5: in-class questionnaires T2-T4: questionnaires within lab-sessions

Correlate

Authors's Label

Self-concordance

Our Classification

Error Estimates

α=.80

Distribution

M=3.89, SD=3.47

Operationalization

At beginning of semester subjects listed 10 things they would be "typically or characteristically trying to do in daily life"

next they reported reasons for pursuing each striving on 4 statements:
a "you pursue this striving because somebody else wants you to or because the situation demands it." (external reason)
b "you pursue this striving because you would feel ashamed, guilty, or anxious if you didn't."(introjected reason)
c "you pursue this striving because you really believe it's an important goal to have." (identified reason)
d "you pursue this striving because of the fun and enjoyment that it provides you." (intrinsic reason)

Rated 1 (not at all for this reason) to 9 (completely for this reason)

Self-concordance: (e+d)-(a+b)

Observed Relation with Happiness