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Cited by 274Innovative Human-Technology InteractionDecision-Making and Behavioral EconomicsMotivation and Self-Concept in Sports

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 72 of the 73 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

The Hidden Cost of Personal Quantification

Etkin, Jordan·2016·Journal of Consumer Research
DOI 10.1093/jcr/ucv095
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Abstract

From sleep and energy use to exercise and health, consumers have access to more information about their behavior than ever before. The appeal of personal quantification seems clear. By better understanding our behavior, we can make the necessary changes to live happier, healthier lives. But might the new tools people are using—quantifying life— rob them of some of the benefits of engaging in those activities? Six experiments demonstrate that while measurement increases how much of an activity people do (e.g., walk or read more), it can simultaneously reduce how much people enjoy those activities. This occurs because measurement can undermine intrinsic motivation. By drawing attention to output, measurement can make enjoyable activities feel more like work, which reduces their enjoyment. As a result, measurement can decrease continued engagement in the activity and subjective well-being. Even in the absence of explicit external incentives, measurement itself can thus have similar effects. The findings have implications for measurement’s use, as well as for the psychology of external incentives and intrinsic motivation.

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Citations

Cites

Show all 73 references

Research works printed but not linked: 6

  1. Jackson, 1974, Personality Research Form Manual,
  2. Lawler, 1971, Pay and Organizational Effectiveness
  3. Lawler, 1973, Motivation in the Work Place
  4. Lepper, 1981, “Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation in Children: Detrimental Effects of Superfluous Social Controls,”, 155
  5. Locke, 1980, “The Relative Effectiveness of Four Methods of Motivating Employee Performance,”, Changes in Working Life, 363, 363
  6. Weber, 2006, “Constructing Preferences from Memories,”, 37

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Metadata

Authors
Etkin, J.
Affiliations
Duke University (US)
Corresponding author
Etkin, Jordan
ORCID
Etkin, Jordan
Venue
Journal of Consumer Research
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2016-02-16
Volume
42
Issue
6
Pages
967-984
ISSN
  • 0093-5301 (ISSN-L)
  • 1537-5277
DOI
10.1093/jcr/ucv095
OpenAlex
W2333629723
Cited by
274
References
73
Citations by year
2026: 30 · 2025: 24 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 31 · 2022: 28 · 2021: 33 · 2020: 39 · 2019: 25 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 5
FWCI
35.88
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Consumer Research (publishedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Human-Computer Interaction › Innovative Human-Technology Interaction
  • Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › General Decision Sciences › Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Motivation and Self-Concept in Sports
Keywords
measurement effects, intrinsic motivation, enjoyment, subjective well-being, activity engagement, extrinsic rewards, self-monitoring, health behavior, physical activity, sleep monitoring, consumer behavior

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