Factor Structure of a Modified Situational Motivation Scale and Inferences to Motivational Antecedents of Hyperfocus

Master's Thesis from the year 2021 in the subject Psychology - Miscellaneous, grade: 1,7, University of Groningen, course: Klinische Neuropsychologie, language: English, abstract: Hyperfocus describes a condition of intense concentration on a task, accompanied by a lack of self-, time-, and environment-awareness. To date, only scarce research examined its characteristics and determinants. Hyperfocus appears to lie on the deep side of the flow continuum. Since flow involves intrinsic motivation, it was hypothesized that intrinsic motivation predicts hyperfocus. A modified version of the Situational Motivation Scale (mSIMS) was applied to measure potential motivational predictors of hyperfocus, consisting of adapted and newly created items measuring motivation in line with self-determination theory and task demands, respectively. Predominantly healthy students and working students (n = 331) filled out the questionnaire online. The motivational impact on hyperfocus was analyzed using hierarchical multiple linear regression. Exploratory factor analysis on the mSIMS revealed four factors: intrinsic motivation, autonomous extrinsic motivation, controlled extrinsic motivation, and amotivation. The regression model explained 22% of the variance (p<.01) and indicated that amotivation serves as the strongest predictor of hyperfocus in a general population, followed by intrinsic motivation, autonomous extrinsic motivation, and controlled extrinsic motivation. One-way ANOVA revealed task-demands to have a higher effect on hyperfocus than medium or low task-demands.

The present study is the first to show that hyperfocus can occur without being linked to motivational variables afterward. Thus, hyperfocus seems not to be purely predicted by intrinsic motivation. However, due to the novelty of the findings, future research attempts should replicate the current research and critically analyze potential confounds such as age or diagnostic status.