Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40922054›Full record

ArticleScandinavian journal of psychology2026

Illegitimate Tasks and Work Motivation: Examining the Full Continuum of Self-Determination.

Petri Karkkola

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scandinavian journal of psychology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

1 author.

Petri KarkkolaSchool of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3414-0020

Funding

Ella ja Georg Ehrnroothin SäätiöSchool of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Eastern Finland
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Illegitimate tasks are tasks that are perceived as unnecessary or unreasonable. They act as stressors and are expected to induce various strains on employees, including motivational strains. In previous studies, only the association between illegitimate tasks and intrinsic motivation was examined. In the present three-wave longitudinal study, the examination was expanded to include the full motivational continuum described in self-determination theory. Structural equation modeling was used to examine both cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between illegitimate tasks and behavioral regulations among Finnish working adults. In addition to intrinsic motivation, illegitimate tasks were observed to also be strongly associated with amotivation and more moderately associated with external regulation, introjected regulation, and identified regulation in the expected directions. In longitudinal analyses, illegitimate tasks were observed to predict an increase in amotivation and a decrease in autonomous motivation; introjected regulation was observed to predict an increase in illegitimate tasks; and autonomous motivation was observed to predict a decrease in illegitimate tasks. Illegitimate tasks and motivation described in self-determination theory may have reciprocal associations over time. Examining other behavioral regulatory styles in addition to intrinsic motivation is recommended.

Indexed as

EmploymentMotivationPersonal AutonomyAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleFinlandHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleMiddle AgedYoung Adultamotivationillegitimate tasksintrinsic motivationself‐determinationwork motivation

Identifiers

PMID40922054
PMCPMC12790102

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.