Abstract
With the emergence of high technologies, there is a constant need for facilitating the changes in our lives. Among them, the online platform economy has been growing remarkably for a decade. This paradigm created a new labor market suggested several alternative work arrangements because it mediated works that are very attractive to those who want to use their free time to make money. In the nearly two years since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in China, online platform workers also experienced changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Those who advocate for online work claim that it provides career opportunities by providing resources like greater work autonomy and a high potential for work–nonwork integration, resulting in more boundaryless, individualized, and whole life careers. All these factors led us to consider how we work, what we value in our workplace, and what motivates us. Among them, motivation is one of the key roles of management because it leads to and sustains behavior. However, prior studies have focused on the theoretical description of platform work motivation, and little is known about motivation causality from a behavioral perspective. This study aims to identify what leads people to become involved in online platform work. In detail. this research examined survey results related to what makes workers dominant in the platform labor market and attempted to explain all the previous phenomena based on the background of self-determination theory.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
The datasets generated during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
References
Archuleta, K. L., Dale, A., Spann, S. M., Atherton, A., Faria, J. R., Wheatley, D., Wu, D., Wu, Z., Averett, S. L., Rodgers, W. M., Markland, D., Selzler, A. M. M., Murray, T. C., Wilson, P. M., Deci, E. L., Olafsen, A. H., Ryan, R. M., Elliot, A. J., emotion, M. G.-M. and, …, Deci, E. L. (1996). Further examining the American dream: differential correlates of intrinsic and extrinsic goals. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 85(3), 280–287. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167296223006
Ashford, S. J., Caza, B. B., & Reid, E. M. (2018). From surviving to thriving in the gig economy: A research agenda for individuals in the new world of work. Research in Organizational Behavior, 38, 23–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.riob.2018.11.001
Baard, P. P., Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2004). Intrinsic need satisfaction: a motivational basis of performance and well-being in two work settings. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 34(10), 2045–2068. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1559-1816.2004.tb02690.x
Baker, S. R., Bloom, N., Davis, S. J., Kost, K., Sammon, M., & Viratyosin, T. (2020). The unprecedented stock market reaction to COVID-19. Review of Asset Pricing Studies, 10(4), 742–758. https://doi.org/10.1093/rapstu/raaa008
Bandura, A. (1977). Self-efficacy: toward a unifying theory of behavioral change. Psychological Review, 84(2), 191–215. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295X.84.2.191
Bandura, A., Freeman, W. H., & Lightsey, R. (1999). Self-Efficacy: the Exercise of Control. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 13(2), 158–166. https://doi.org/10.1891/0889-8391.13.2.158
Beier, M. E., Bradford, B. C., Torres, W. J., Shaw, A., & Kim, M. H. (2019). Cognition, motivation, and lifespan development. Work Across the Lifespan, 157–177.https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-812756-8.00007-4
Belot, M., Choi, S., Jamison, J. C., Papageorge, N. W., Egon, T. and van den Broek-Altenburg, E. (2020). Six-country survey on Covid-19. IZA discussion paper No. 13230, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3596697 or https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3596697
Blaising, A., & Dabbish, L. (2022). Managing the transition to online freelance platforms: self-directed socialization. Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 6(CSCW2), 1–26.
Brabham, D. C. (2008). Moving the crowd at iStockphoto: the composition of the crowd and motivations for participation in a crowdsourcing application. First Monday. https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v13i6.2159
Cerasoli, C. P., Nicklin, J. M., & Ford, M. T. (2014). Intrinsic motivation and extrinsic incentives jointly predict performance: a 40-year meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 140(4), 980–1008. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0035661
Chen, M. K., Chevalier, J. A., Rossi, P. E., & Oehlsen, E. (2019). The value of flexible work: evidence from uber drivers. Journal of Political Economy, 127(6), 2735–2794. https://doi.org/10.1086/702171
Cury, F., Elliot, A. J., Fonseca, D., & Moller, A. C. (2006). The social-cognitive model of achievement motivation and the 2 × 2 achievement goal framework. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 90(4), 666–679. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.90.4.666
Deci, E. L. (1971). Effects of externally mediated rewards on intrinsic motivation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 18(1), 105–115. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0030644
Deci, E. L., Cascio, W. F., & Krusell, J. (1975). Cognitive evaluation theory and some comments on the Calder and Staw critique. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 31(1), 81–85. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0076168
Deci, E. L., Olafsen, A. H., & Ryan, R. M. (2017). Self-determination theory in work organizations: the state of a science. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 4(1), 19–43. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-032516-113108
Dickey, H., Watson, V., & Zangelidis, A. (2011). Is it all about money? an examination of the motives behind moonlighting. Applied Economics, 43(26), 3767–3774. https://doi.org/10.1080/00036841003724403
Dube, A., Jacobs, J., Naidu, S., & Suri, S. (2020). Monopsony in online labor markets. American Economic Review: Insights, 2(1), 33–46. https://doi.org/10.1257/aeri.20180150
Elliot, A. J. (1999). Approach and avoidance motivation and achievement goals. Educational Psychologist, 34(3), 169–189. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15326985ep3403_3
Elliot, A. J., & Harackiewicz, J. M. (1996). Approach and avoidance achievement goals and intrinsic motivation: a mediational analysis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 70(3), 461–475. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.70.3.461
Elliot, A. J., Murayama, K., & Pekrun, R. (2011). A 3 × 2 achievement goal model. Journal of Educational Psychology, 103(3), 632–648. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0023952
Gagné, M., & Deci, E. L. (2005). Self-determination theory and work motivation. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 26(4), 331–362. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.322
Ghezzi, A., Gabelloni, D., Martini, A., & Natalicchio, A. (2018). Crowdsourcing: a review and suggestions for Future Research. International Journal of Management Reviews, 20(2), 343–363. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijmr.12135
Güntert, S. T. (2015). The impact of work design, autonomy support, and strategy on employee outcomes: a differentiated perspective on self-determination at work. Motivation and Emotion, 39(1), 74–87. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-014-9412-7
Hair, J. F., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2011). PLS-SEM: Indeed a silver bullet. Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice, 19(2), 139–152. https://doi.org/10.2753/MTP1069-6679190202
Harman, G. H., Harman, G. H., & Chomsky, N. (1967). Psychological aspects of the theory of syntax. The Journal of Philosophy, 64(2), 75–87.
Jabagi, N., Croteau, A. M., Audebrand, L. K., & Marsan, J. (2019). Gig-workers’ motivation: thinking beyond carrots and sticks. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 34(4), 192–213. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMP-06-2018-0255
Kaufmann, N., Schulze, T., & Veit, D. (2011). More than fun and money. Worker motivation in crowdsourcing – a study on mechanical Turk. Proceedings of the Seventeenth Americas Conference on Information Systems, 4(2009), 1–11. http://schader.bwl.uni-mannheim.de/fileadmin/files/publikationen/Kaufmann_Schulze_Veit_2011_-_More_than_fun_and_money_Worker_motivation_in_Crowdsourcing_-_A_Study_on_Mechanical_Turk_AMCIS_2011.pdf
Keith, M. G., Harms, P., & Tay, L. (2019). Mechanical Turk and the gig economy: exploring differences between gig workers. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 34(4), 286–306. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMP-06-2018-0228
Kenney, M., & Zysman, J. (2019). Chapter 1 work and value creation in the platform economy (pp. 13–41). https://doi.org/10.1108/S0277-283320190000033003
Kimmel, J., & Smith Conway, K. (2001). Who moonlights and why? evidence from the SIPP. Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, 40(1), 89–120. https://doi.org/10.1111/0019-8676.00198
Kuhn, K. M., & Galloway, T. L. (2019). Expanding perspectives on gig work and gig workers. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 34(4), 186–191. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMP-05-2019-507
Kumbure, M. M., Lohrmann, C., Luukka, P., & Porras, J. (2022). Machine learning techniques and data for stock market forecasting: a literature review. Expert Systems with Applications, 116659. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2022.116659
Leimeister, J., Huber, M., Bretschneider, U., & Krcmar, H. (2009). Leveraging crowdsourcing: activation-supporting components for IT-based ideas competition. Journal of Management Information Systems, 26(1), 197–224. https://doi.org/10.2753/MIS0742-1222260108
Locke, E. A., & Latham, G. P. (1990). A theory of goal setting & task performance. A theory of goal setting & task performance. Prentice-Hall, Inc.
Locke, E. A., & Latham, G. P. (2006). New directions in goal-setting theory new directions in goal-setting theory. Psychological Science, 15(October), 265–268.
Maddux, J. E., & Rogers, R. W. (1983). Protection motivation and self-efficacy: A revised theory of fear appeals and attitude change. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 19(5), 469–479. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-1031(83)90023-9
Madsen, S. R. (2001). The benefits, challenges, and implication of teleworking: A literature review. Journal of Culture and Religion, 1, 148–158.
Maroto, M. L., Pettinicchio, D., & Lukk, M. (2021). Working differently or not at all: COVID-19’s effects on employment among people with disabilities and chronic health conditions. Sociological Perspectives, 64(5), 876–897. https://doi.org/10.1177/07311214211012018
Morgeson, F. P., & Humphrey, S. E. (2006). The work design questionnaire (WDQ): developing and validating a comprehensive measure for assessing job design and the nature of work. Journal of Applied Psychology, 91(6), 1321–1339. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.91.6.1321
Nie, Y., Chua, B. L., Yeung, A. S., Ryan, R. M., & Chan, W. Y. (2015). The importance of autonomy support and the mediating role of work motivation for well-being: testing self-determination theory in a chinese work organisation. International Journal of Psychology, 50(4), 245–255. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijop.12110
Oppenlaender, J., Visuri, A., Milland, K., Ipeirotis, P., & Hosio, S. (2020). What do crowd workers think about creative work? http://arxiv.org/abs/2002.10887. Accessed 3 Feb 2022.
Park, J., Rahman, H. A., Suh, J., & Hussin, H. (2019). A study of integrative bargaining model with argumentation-based negotiation. Sustainability, 11(23). https://doi.org/10.3390/su11236832
Pelletier, L. G., Fortier, M. S., Vallerand, R. J., & Brière, N. M. (2001). Associations among perceived autonomy support, forms of self-regulation, and persistence: a prospective study. Motivation and Emotion, 25(4), 279–306. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1014805132406
Piotr Organisciak. (2008). No title. Motivation of Crowds: The Incentives That Make Crowdsourcing Work.
Podsakoff, P. M., & Organ, D. W. (1986). Self-reports in organizational research: problems and prospects. Journal of management, 12(4), 531–544.
Podsakoff, P. M., MacKenzie, S. B., Lee, J. Y., & Podsakoff, N. P. (2003). Common method biases in behavioral research: a critical review of the literature and recommended remedies. Journal of applied psychology, 88(5), 879–903.
Rockmann, K. W., & Ballinger, G. A. (2017). Intrinsic motivation and organizational identification among on-demand workers. Journal of Applied Psychology, 102(9), 1305–1316. https://doi.org/10.1037/apl0000224
Rosenblat, A., & Hwang, T. (2016). Regional diversity in autonomy and work: A case study from Uber and Lyft drivers. Intelligence and Autonomy. https://datasociety.net/library/regional-diversity-in-autonomy-and-work-a-case-study-from-uber-and-lyft-drivers/
Ryan, R. M., & Connell, J. P. (1989). Perceived locus of causality and internalization: examining reasons for acting in two domains. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57(5), 749–761. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.57.5.749
Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. American Psychologist, 55(1), 68–78. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.55.1.68
Sheldon, K. M., & Elliot, A. J. (1998). Not all personal goals are personal: comparing autonomous and controlled reasons for goals as predictors of effort and attainment. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 24(5), 546–557. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167298245010
Sheldon, K. M., Ryan, R. M., Deci, E. L., & Kasser, T. (2004). The Independent Effects of goal contents and motives on Well-Being: It’s both what you pursue and why you pursue it. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 30(4), 475–486. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167203261883
Spreitzer, G. M., Cameron, L., & Garrett, L. (2017). Alternative work arrangements: two images of the new world of work. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 4(1), 473–499. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-032516-113332
Spurk, D., & Straub, C. (2020). Flexible employment relationships and careers in times of the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 119(May), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2020.103435
Tovmasyan, G., & Minasyan, D. (2020). The impact of motivation on work efficiency for both employers and employees also during COVID-19 pandemic: case study from Armenia. Business Ethics and Leadership, 4(3), 25–35. https://doi.org/10.21272/10.21272/bel.4(3).25-35.2020
Urzí Brancati, M. C., Fernández-Macías, E., Pesole, A., González Vázquez, I., Biagi, F., & European Commission. Joint Research Centre. (2018). Platform workers in Europe. In Publications Office of the European Union. https://doi.org/10.2760/742789
Vansteenkiste, V., Lens, W., Witte, H., & Feather, N. T. (2005). Understanding unemployed people’s job search behaviour, unemployment experience and well-being: a comparison of expectancy-value theory and self-determination theory. British Journal of Social Psychology, 44(2), 269–287. https://doi.org/10.1348/014466604X17641
Weinstein, N. (Ed.). (2014). Human motivation and interpersonal relationships. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8542-6
Williams, G. C., Grow, V. M., Freedman, Z. R., Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (1996). Motivational predictors of weight loss and weight-loss maintenance. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 70(1), 115–126. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.70.1.115
Wilson, J. M., Lee, J., Fitzgerald, H. N., Oosterhoff, B., Sevi, B., & Shook, N. J. (2020). Job insecurity and financial concern during the COVID-19 pandemic are associated with worse mental health. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 62(9), 686–691. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000001962
Wolor, C. W., Solikhah, S., Fidhyallah, N. F., & Lestari, D. P. (2020). Effectiveness of E-Training, E-Leadership, and work life balance on employee performance during COVID-19. Journal of Asian Finance Economics and Business, 7(10), 443–450. https://doi.org/10.13106/jafeb.2020.vol7.no10.443
Acknowledgements
This study was financially supported by Seoul National University of Science and Technology.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
All Authors significantly contributed to the manuscript.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Ethical approval
Participants were informed that this research followed the provisions of Article 33 (Protection of Confidentiality) and Article 34 (Duties of Statisticians) of the Statistics Act in Korea.
Consent to participate
All participants provided online informed consent prior to completing the survey of the study.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
Additional information
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Kim, N., Lee, K., Lee, J. et al. The motivation to work in an online platform economy money-view or self-view?. Curr Psychol 43, 7308–7323 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-04885-7
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-04885-7