(Un)Worthy Opponents: A Study of the Introduction of Extrinsic Rewards on the Motives of Highly Intrinsically Motivated Individuals

Previous research has suggested that offering individuals monetary rewards for an activity may diminish their intrinsic motivation. But what effect does offering monetary rewards have when individuals are already highly intrinsically motivated for their work? The purpose of this thesis was to explore how the introduction of a salary affected the motives of highly intrinsically motivated individuals. To achieve this purpose, ten qualitative, semi-structured interviews were conducted with professional cricket players in New Zealand. Findings from these interviews showed that while players emphasised the value of having a love for their work, they also recognised motivational benefits of receiving a salary. Findings also highlighted a tension between players’ positive experiences of receiving monetary rewards, and their negative perceptions of the use of such rewards. Overall, this thesis develops understanding of how — for workers with already high levels of intrinsic motivation — monetary rewards can be complementary, rather than detrimental, to their internal and external motivations for work.