Effects of frustration of the achievement motive on task processing: Findings from diffusion model analyses

In motive research, the analysis of experimental data by means of mathematical models like the diffusion model is not yet a common approach. Based on the results of two studies (N1 = 108, N2 = 104), I demonstrate that the diffusion model (Ratcliff, 1978) is a useful tool to gain more insights into motivational processes. The experiments were inspired by findings of a study by Brunstein and Hoyer (2002). They observed that individuals high in the implicit achievement motive who receive negative intraindividual performance feedback speed up in a response time task. The reduced mean response times were interpreted in terms of an increase in effort. In the two studies, in which I used a similar feedback manipulation, individuals with high implicit achievement motive decreased their threshold separation parameter. Thus, they became less cautious over the time working on the task. Accordingly, the decrease in response times previously reported might mainly be attributable to a change in strategy (focusing on speed instead of accuracy) rather than to an increase in effort. The results will be discussed in the context of emotion regulation strategies.