Pandey &amp Srivastava YVJ 2022 (2695)

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Role of Need for Achievement on Decision making and Life

Orientation of Young Adults
Prachi Pandey and Akancha Srivastava
To cite this article: Pandey, P. & Srivastava, A. (2022). Role of Need for Achievement on
Decision making and Life Orientation of Young Adults, Youth Voice Journal, ISSN (online):
2056 – 2969.
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Pandey & Srivastava
Role of Need for Achievement on Decision

making and Life Orientation of Young
Adults
Published in the Youth Voice Journal

www.rj4allpublications.com
©RJ4All 2022
Publication date: May 2022
ISSN(online): 2056 – 2969
Prachi Pandey1 and Akancha Srivastava2
Name and address of the corresponding author: Dr. Akancha Srivastava, Assistant Professor, Department
of Psychology, School of Humanities & Social Sciences CHRIST (Deemed to be University) Delhi NCR
INDIA
Email ID - akancha.srivastava@christuniversity.in
Funding: No funding
1
Prachi Pandey, is currently pursuing Ph.D. in Psychology from University of Hyderabad. She has pursued her
graduation in B.A.(Hons.) Applied Psychology from Amity University, Lucknow and her post-graduation in Psychology
from University of Allahabad. She has always been an enthusiast of psychology as a subject and applied nature of the
subject. Apart from her work in Research Methodology, her areas of interest are Indian Psychology, Clinical
Psychology, Health Psychology and Counselling Psychology.
2
Dr. Akancha Srivastava, is working in capacity of Assistant professor in the Department of Psychology, School of
Social Sciences at CHRIST (Deemed to be University) Delhi NCR. She did her Ph.D from Defence Institute of
Psychological Reseach (DIPR-DRDO) in MoU with Bharathiar University Coimbatore. She was JRF and a SRF at Defence
Institute of Psychological Reseach (DIPR-DRDO). She has also worked with the prestigious Indian Institute of
Management, Indore. She has varied experience in research as well as teaching. Her areas of interest are
Organizational Behaviour, Human Resource Management, Positive Psychology. She has many national and
international publications to her credit.
Pandey & Srivastava
Abstract
Purpose- To assess the role of need for achievement on decision making and life orientation of
young adults.
Design/methodology/approach- The data was collected from the participants using a

questionnaire. The sample size is 100 young adults. The sampling technique used is convenience
sampling, and the research design is a cross-sectional survey. It was hypothesised that individuals high in
achievement motivation will also be high in life orientation level and there will be a positive correlation
between achievement motivation and decision making.
Findings – The results of the study indicate that an individual high in achievement motivation will
also be high in life orientation level and a positive correlation is found between achievement motivation
and decision making. The other findings are that optimising decision-making styles is positively
correlated with achievement motivation and a significant difference in achievement motivation between
males and females is found, indicating a higher need for achievement in females as compared to males.
Social Implications- The findings of the study are considerable with respect to the personal,
professional, and educational development of young adults. As the research suggests, there is a positive
relationship between decision-making styles, achievement motivation, and orientation towards life.
Therefore, various decision-making styles can be introduced in the behavioural sciences’ subject domain.
Higher achievement needs in females indicate their potential in various professional realms, and such
platforms, if provided, can increase women's participation in the workforce, resulting in economic,
social, and personal development for women as well as society.
Originality/ Value – The youth of a country are its greatest assets, and for an aspirational
country, there is a need for a highly motivated task force. The research topic focuses on how motivated
behaviour occupies a central position in personality and its relationship with decision-making style and
orientation towards life. This study focuses on the need of the hour, which is harnessing our youth and
exploring more about the achievement-oriented behaviour and optimistic outlook of young adults, which
is the demographic dividend of the country.
Keywords: Decision-making, Life Orientation, Need for Achievement, Personality, Young

adulthood
Pandey & Srivastava
INTRODUCTION
We are constantly evolving and evolving from the moment we are conceived until the day we die.
Our lifetime development provides an overview of the essential normal formative stages that humans go
through: birth, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, maturity, and finally death. The biological (changes in
our physical being), social (changes in our social connections), emotional (changes in our passionate
comprehension and experiences), and cognitive shifts (changes in our cognitive abilities) all play a role in
development.
For a long time, formative researchers have been interested in how children create an
understandable sense of self, but more recently, they have turned their attention to personality
development in the era following adolescence known as developing or young adulthood. During this
period of life, young adults face rapid changes as they strive for self-sufficiency and develop a sense of self.
Young adults aspire for a variety of accomplishments. The relevance of achievement goal orientation and
commitment in the interpretation of goals has been addressed in frameworks for achievement motivation
and behaviour, personal goals, and identity formation. Achievement orientation is a skill that
demonstrates your ability to progress through time. The goal hierarchy provides a means to conceptualise
achievement orientation, in terms of learning or performance orientation. As a goal frame induction
influences intentions and, thus, how individuals approach achievement situations, select goals and
aspiration levels, and react to progress, impacting decision-making as well as life orientation.
Need For Achievement
Atkinson and Feather (1966) stated that “Achievement motivation is conceived as a talent
disposition which is manifested in overt striving only when the individual perceives performance as
instrumental to a sense of personal accomplishment.”
Achievement motivation can best be comprehended by looking at the implications of

"achievement" and "motivation" independently. Achievement regularly focuses on the significance of
accomplishment and fulfilment with our efforts included (Mandel and Marcus, 1991). Motivation relates
to a person's purpose behind taking part in an action, how much an individual pursues the movement, and
the constancy of the individual (Graham and Weiner, 1996).
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First proposed by Henry Alexander Murray (1893 - 1888), yet wasn't genuinely examined until
David McClelland took up research about taking a gander at the Need for Achievement. The author
characterized it as an exceptional, prolonged endeavours or efforts to achieve something difficult; to work
with singleness of direction towards a high and distant objective; to have the assurance to win.
McClelland’s Theory of Need for Achievement (N-Ach), or Acquired Needs Theory is one of the
speculations concentrating on human motivation. Need for achievement theory was published by
American psychologist David McClelland (1958).
McClelland's need theory is nearly connected with learning theory, since he trusted that needs are
learned or procured by the sorts of occasions individuals’ involvement in their condition and culture. He
found that individuals who gain a specific need act uniquely in contrast to the individuals who don't have.
His hypothesis concentrated on Murray's three needs: accomplishment, power, and affiliations. In the
writing, these three needs are contracted as "n Ach", "n Pow", and "n Aff" respectively. This is the drive to
exceed expectations, to accomplish in connection to a set "standard, and to endeavour to succeed. As
such, need of achievement is a behaviour coordinated towards competition with a standard of perfection.
McClelland found that individuals with a high need of achievement perform superior to those with a
moderate or low need of achievement, and noted territorial, national contrasts in achievement
motivation.
As indicated by Atkinson and Feather (1966), "Achievement motivation is considered as an ability

which is manifested in overt striving just when the individual sees execution as instrumental to a sense of
individual achievement." Individuals high in achievement motivation are at their best when they can keep
up a high state of association in guaranteeing the excellence of work or activities under their coordination
or control. Be that as it may, they do generally less well when required to manage excessive assignments
or to work in profoundly unpleasant or stressful conditions.
As per McClelland and Winter (1969) following highlights go with high state of achievement
motivation: moderate risk inclination; undertaking inventive and engaging assignments; inside locus of
control and duty regarding own choices and behaviour- requirement for exact objective or goal setting.
Atkinson (1957) detailed a "risk preference" model the model clarified and predicted decision conduct and
steadiness in achievement – orientation circumstances with uncertainty, for example at the point when
the result relies upon one's movement however is uncertain. Atkinson guaranteed that people with strong
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requirement for achievement, in such conditions select undertakings of a middle dimension of difficulty,
while failure-oriented subjects stay away from this dimension of difficulty.
Decision Making
Decision is defined as a moment in an ongoing process of evaluating alternatives related to a goal,
at which the expectation of decision maker with regard to a particular course of action impels him to make
a selection (Harrison, 1996). Decision-making is the process of identifying and selecting from among
possible solutions to a problem according to the demands of the situation.
Choice is an occasion that happens. A conscious choice to carry on or to think with a specific goal
in mind in an extraordinary circumstance (Duncan, 1973). Formal decisions are moderately complex, non-
schedule, and by and large non-repetitive strategies, criteria, and techniques for settling on such choices
may not generally exist since the issue confronted may need point of reference. Innovativeness may
assume a key job in such choices. Informal decisions are progressively monotonous and routine in nature.
Arrangements, systems, criteria, what's more, strategies frequently exist to help administrators in settling
on such choices.
Decision making is a procedure that selects a favoured alternative or a course of activities from
among an arrangement of choices based on given criteria or techniques. Decision making is one of the
fundamental cognitive processes of an individual that is generally utilized in deciding rational, heuristic,
and instinctive choices in complex logical, building, conservative, and management circumstances, and
also in every technique of day-by-day life (Wang et al., 2007). Since decision making is a fundamental
mental process, it happens like in every next second in the reasoning courses of human personality
consciously or subconsciously. In spite of the fact that the cognitive capacities of decision makers might
be incredibly fluctuating, the centre subjective procedures the human brain share similar and recursive
qualities and components.
Decision making is the procedure of thought and pondering that leads to decision. It is a dynamic
procedure, which shows that an issue exists, along these lines the best approaches must be chosen and
executed (Gass,1985). Decision making is a conscious procedure, including both individual and social
issues. It is the privilege of picking a strategy from among various choices. Simon (1965) recommended
three particular however related stages in the decision-making process the first stage being insight or
intelligence stage, second stage the plan or design stage and third the decision or choice stage. This
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decision making also influences orientation towards life as life orientation means how do people view or
see their life as, i.e., their approach towards life. The orientation that any individual has towards life is the
base of any decision, he or she takes.
Life Orientation
Life Orientation- is fundamental to the comprehensive advancement of students. It tends to
aptitudes, information and qualities for the individual, social, scholarly, enthusiastic and physical
development of students, and is worried about the manner by which these features are interrelated. Life
Orientation manages and plans students forever and its conceivable outcomes and prepares them for
significant and fruitful living in a quickly changing society.
The Scientology Life Orientation course was designed by Hubbard to help people sort out the
meaning of their individual lives – or as he put it to find his or her function in life. Life Orientation is integral
to the all-encompassing advancement of learners. It tends to abilities, information and qualities for the
individual, social, scholarly, enthusiastic and physical development of students, and is concerned about
the manner by which these aspects are interrelated. (Hubbard, L. R. 2007).
There is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a great difference. This little
difference is the attitude and the big difference is whether it is positive or negative. Somewhere between
our emotions and our thought processing lie our attitudes. In the opinion of Jung (1921) attitude is a
readiness of the psyche to act or react in a certain way. People's attitudes are usually expressed as positive
or negative, and the terms optimism and pessimism are frequently used for this. Happiness and assurance
about the future or fruitful result of something is how optimism is defined. It is an inclination to take a
good or confident view. Being hopeful, in the run of the mill feeling of the word, at last methods one
anticipates the most ideal result from some random circumstance. Pessimism then again is characterized
as ―a propensity to stress the negative or horrible or to take the gloomiest conceivable view. Frame of
mind or out attitude is a way of living life. We have a decision regular with respect to the frame of mind
we grasp for that day. The main distinction between a decent day and a terrible day is our attitude.
Optimism- optimism is a summed-up hope, that one will encounter great results and good outcomes
throughout everyday life, attitude or perspective to translate past or present occasions in a positive way
(Carver, Scheier, and Segerstrom, 2010). This expectancy contrasts from individual to individual is an
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indicator of conduct or behaviour (Scheier and Carver, 1992) and prompts perseverance and striving
toward objective or goal directed behaviour (Carver et al., 2010).
Rationale of the Study
Individuals' need for achievement is a key component of their normative developmental stages,
particularly 'young adulthood.' This is the period during which a person evolves from adolescence to
adulthood. One critical point is that achievement serves as a building block in this phase, allowing
individuals to establish a sense of self-worth as a success. The desire for success combines to create a form
of progress that is important and meaningful to the individual, allowing them to evaluate alternatives and
channel their efforts into areas where they are more likely to succeed, allowing them to better prepare
themselves for a better orientation toward life and meaningful and fruitful living in a changing society.
Motivation provides a significant groundwork to complete cognitive behaviour, such as preparation,
organization, decision-making, learning, and assessments. If need for achievement leads to positive life
orientation then this connection should definitely be used in organisational curriculum to improvise
orientation of individual. The aim of the research is on how need for achievement can contribute to skill
orientation and decision-making prospect as individual with high need for achievement seek to excel, take
calculated risk and opt for challenging but not impossible goals. In addition to this, the research also aims
to study the relationship between need for achievement and quality of life.
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
McClelland, (1965) found that highly motivated people stay active and effective in pioneering
circumstance when contrasted with those people who are low achievers and less motivated. As per
Hilgard, (1996) students may have the desire to achieve and capacity to accomplish the task, however feel
the achievement has practically no esteem and feel doing it isn't justified regardless of the exertion or
time. Others may expect that they are not fit for finishing the required task, so they don't start. They feel
it is smarter to get a lower overall grade than to demonstrate that they do not have the ability to effectively
completely the task.
A study directed by Shekhar, C. Devi, R., (2012) uncovered that female are altogether higher than
males in terms of need for achievement. However, De Martino, Robert Barbate, Jacques, (2006) did a study
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on investigating the Career/Achievement and Personal Life Orientation Differences among Entrepreneurs
and non-entrepreneurs and found that there is no factually significant difference in the
career/achievement and individual life orientations of women entrepreneurs and comparative women
non entrepreneurs. It additionally finds that male entrepreneurs have a more prominent
Career/Achievement orientation as contrasted and male non entrepreneurs.
Spencer (1983) found that achievement can frequently bring advantages and disappointment can
regularly bring disgrace. Kavousipour et al, (2015) conducted a study on achievement motivation level in
studies of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences and its powerful factors and found that intrinsic factors
can enhance the students states of mind more than extrinsic ones. Nelson and DeBacker, (2008) found
that positive peer relationships furnish with increasing the confidence, achievement, inspiration, attending
and adjustment of a person to the organization.
As per the expectancy value model, Martin Fishbein, (1972) goal driven conduct of individual is
strengthened by two components. The value of an objective refers to its attractive quality to the individual.
Expectancy refers to the convictions about the odds of feasibility of objectives. An individual will be more
decided in seeking after an objective when the objective is extremely esteemed and when the individual
expects that he will be fruitful in accomplishing that objective. Inside the expectancy-esteem system, the
proposed job of positive thinking is that confident people have a tendency to have more good anticipations
than the worriers. Along these lines, hopeful people are relied upon to be steadier in seeking after foreseen
objectives, and accomplish better results, also life Orientation guides and prepares learners for life with
its responsibilities and possibilities. One theory of achievement motivation expressed that an individual's
achievement-oriented behaviour is in light of three sections: the initial segment being the person's
predisposition to accomplishment, the second part being the probability of progress, and third, the
person's perception of estimation or value of the task (Atkinson,1966). Haasen and Shea (1979) stated that
if we accept the notion of intrinsic motivation this implies that we all have a powerful potential of
actualisation of self. Eckstein, D.G and R Driscoll (1982) suggested that people differ in this ability just as
they differ in all other characteristics and not only, they differ in ability but they also differ in terms of their
basic strategy when it comes to the concept of decision-making style. These studies focus on how the need
for achievement is an acquired drive grounded in the reinforcement of specific behavioural tendencies
and associated to an individual's life orientation as well as decision-making processes.
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Theoretical Foundation
1. Need for Achievement and Life Orientation
Atkinson (1957) stimulated much research on the relation between need for achievement and
probability preference, especially in the situations in which subject believed they could influence the
results by their own efforts, this state how an individual with high need of achievement plan, visualize,
believe that things can go their way if they work for it which shows a positive attitude towards life. Bressler
(1963) found that intelligence, capacity, and need of achievement can credit to academic achievement.
Additionally, academic achievement might be reliant upon a few other essential factors, for example, trust,
optimism and objective setting.
Characteristics of people with high achievement motivation incorporate an orientation toward

critical thinking and direct difficulties. These people additionally put a high emphasis on achievement and
success and are inclined towards challenging yet achievable objectives where their capacities and
endeavours can influence the outcome. Individuals with high need of achievement utilize rewards. These
people put a higher incentive on personal sense of achievement. Based upon the above assumption the
following hypothesis is being proposed.
HYPOTHESIS 1 – Individual high in achievement motivation will be high on life orientation level.
2. Need for Achievement and Decision Making
Motivation provides a significant groundwork to complete cognitive behaviour, such as

preparation, organization, decision-making, learning, and assessments (Pintrich & Schunk, 1996). High
achievers obtain feedback on execution and utilize the information to channel endeavours into regions
where success will probably be attained. Develop an internal desire for progress and challenges. Daydream
in positive terms by envisioning oneself as fruitful in the quest for essential destinations. People with a
need for achievement tend to set moderate goals with moderate risks. Low goals and risks don’t provide
a sense of achievement, and high goals and risks have too great a chance of failure. This states that an
individual with high need of achievement decides and set moderate goal and want constant feedback so
that decision making process for accomplishing the goal may become easier.
HYPOTHESIS 2 –There will be a positive correlation between achievement motivation and decision making.
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Research Objectives
1. To study the impact of need of achievement on life orientation of young adults.
2. To study the impact of need of achievement on decision making of young adults.
METHOD
Population – The population for this study was Young Adults. According to National Youth Policy
of India (2014) the youth population as those in the age group of 15-29 yrs. This age-amass establishes
27.5% of India's population. The 2011 Census checked 563 million youngsters from 10 to 35, as indicated
by the twelfth Five-Year Plan Vol. II (2013).
Sample – 100 young adults, 50 males and 50 females.
Characteristics of the sample
Sample Characteristics
Sample size, N 100
Number of Male participants 50
Number of female participants 50
Mean age of participants 23 years
Sampling technique-
Convenience sampling was employed, it is a non-probability sampling technique where subjects

are chosen in view of their accessibility and proximity or nearness to the researcher. This technique
contributes in the ease of research, helpful for pilot studies and for hypothesis generation, data
collection can be facilitated in short duration of time, cheapest to implement than alternative sampling
methods.
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Research Design-
Cross sectional survey research design was employed it is characterized as research type that
examines data of variables collected at one given period of time over a sample population. This
investigation type is otherwise called cross-sectional analysis. The data collected in a cross-sectional survey
is from individuals who are comparative in all variables except from the one variable which is under
examination. This variable stays consistent all through the cross-sectional study. This design is not costly
to perform and does not require a lot of time, it captures a specific point in time, and the data can be used
for various types of research. Many findings and outcomes can be analysed to create new theories/studies
or in-depth research.
Tools used to conduct research-
a) Need of Achievement – Achievement motivation among young adults was measured by the
scale Deo Mohan Achievement motivation scale (n-Ach) proposed by Prof. Prathibha Deo and Dr. Asha
Mohan. It is a fifty-item scale. Costello (1967) obtained split half reliability coefficient of .82 for this scale.
The coefficient of co relation between the scale and the projective test was found to be .54 which speaks
for validity of the scale also as the validity being concurrent in nature. Item- I shall be very much pleased
if I have to miss the classes for some days.
b) Decision making- Decision making among young adults was measured by the scale Decision
making questionnaire proposed by French, West, Elandenj, Wilding (1993). It is twenty-one items scale.
The reliability of the scale during the research by Lata Bajpai Singh and Sunayana Jain, (2017) “Maximizing
tendency and decision making among to be professionals” was found as 0.894, with mean score 87.30 and
standard deviation as 17.81. Item- 1. Do you enjoy making decisions?
This scale consists of 7 dimensions –
Thoroughness- In thorough decision making, the individual tries to find out all the relevant
information and carefully consider all consequences before making a decision.
Control- In controlled decision making, individuals are calm, unemotional and in control while
making decisions.
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Hesitancy- Hesitant decision making has an uncertain or indecisive nature. The decision maker will
hold back because of uncertainty.
Social resistance- Social resistant decision maker is unaffected by the decisions made by others.
This decision maker is challenging and sometimes makes decision by going against the advice offered by
others. Optimising-Optimised decision maker is very much positive about future outcomes or future
consequences of the decision.
Principled- The principled decision making is considered to be rigid and inflexible when making
decisions regardless of the consequences.
Instinctiveness- Instinctive decision maker does not anticipate future consequences, does not
systematically seek information in order to make decision. This decision maker is emotionally self-aware
and often make decision based on a gut feeling.
c)Life Orientation- Life orientation of young adults was measured by the scale Life orientation test
– revised (LOT-R) originally proposed by Scheier & Carver, (1992) and revised by Scheier, Carver, & Bridges,
(1994). It is a ten-item scale. In a study conducted by Jameson K. Hirsch and Peter C. Britton and Kenneth
R. Conner on opiate-dependent patients seeking methadone treatment, internal consistency of this scale
was adequate at baseline (α=.69) and follow-up (α=.72). Test-retest reliability was good (ICC=.72), varying
across gender, race, ethnicity, education, employment and income (ICC Range=.24 –.85). Criterion validity
was found to be strong. Item- In uncertain times, I usually expect the best.
Procedure
The study has been designed based on the previous literature that shows that a need for
achievement is positively correlated with life orientation and decision-making. The data has been collected
from a population of young adults (ages ranging from 15–29 years), 50 males and 50 females. Accordingly,
a questionnaire was designed for the participants to respond to. Before the participant was asked to fill
out the questionnaire, his/her consent was taken. A healthy rapport was established before the collection
of the data in person. The participant was assured that his or her data would be kept confidential and
would only be used for research purposes. After the collection of data, the results were analysed. All the
participants were administered the Deo Mohan Achievement Motivation Scale, the Decision-Making
Questionnaire (DMQ), and the Life Orientation Test (LOT-R). Analysis of the data was done using SPSS
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(Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) software. The results were interpreted and a discussion was
held. The implications and scope for future research have been discussed.
Ethical Considerations
The participants were asked for their consent to participate in the study. It was made clear to the
participants that they were free to withdraw their participation at any time they wanted during the
research. Therefore, the participation was voluntary. It was made sure to provide all potential participants
with all the relevant information about what the study is about, how long the study will take, and the
contact information of the researcher. The data was collected from university students through a survey
questionnaire. The questionnaire was divided into four sections, wherein section A included consent and
briefing the participant regarding the questionnaire, section B was a questionnaire of the achievement
motivation scale, section C included the decision-making scale, and section D was the life orientation scale.
It was ensured that the subject understood all the instructions correctly and was comfortable. The results
were communicated to the participants as well, and the focus was to make the results as transparent as
possible. Also, confidentiality was ensured for the participants.
RESULT AND INTERPRETATION-

Table 1: Descriptive statistics-
Descriptive Statistics
Variable N Minimum Maximum Mean Std. Deviation
DM 100 46.00 107.00 83.64 9.48
AM 100 85.00 188.00 128.64 18.39
LO 100 3.00 24.00 13.92 3.9
DM- Decision making; AM- Achievement motivation; LO- Life orientation
Table 1 represents the description of the data i.e.; sample size is of 100. Min-Max for Decision
making is 46.00-107.00, mean is 83.64 and standard deviation is 9.5. For Achievement motivation Min –
Max is 85.00-188.00, mean is 128.64 and standard deviation is 18.39. For Life Orientation Min-Max is 3.00
– 24.00, mean is 13.92 and standard deviation is 3.90.
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Table 2: Relationship among decision making, achievement motivation and life orientation-
1 2 3
DM -
LO .32** -
AM .44** .24* -
* p < 0.05 level of significant
** p < 0.01 level of significant
DM- Decision making; AM- Achievement motivation; LO- Life orientation
The table reflects that there is a positive correlation among decision making, achievement
motivation and life orientation.
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Table 3 – Relationship among Decision making dimensions, Achievement motivation and Life orientation
(optimism- pessimism) of young adults-
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
TH -
CN .453** -
HS .267** -.013 -
SR .17 .40** -.15 -
OP .138 .032 .032 .070 -
PR -.11 -.018 -.12 .115 -.03 -
IN -.01** .451** -.02 .18 .08 .147 -
AM .534** .396** .098 -.081 .213* .007 .247 -
OPT .149 .294** .107 .190 .105 .030 .235* .189 -
PES .144 .238* .109 -0.27 -.133 -.02 -.011 -.16* .215 -
** p < 0.01 level of significance
* p < 0.05 level of significance
TH- Thoroughness; CN- Control; HS-Hesitancy; SR-Social Resistance-Optimising; PR-Principled; IN-

Instinctiveness; AM-Achievement motivation; OPT-Optimism; PES-Pessimism.
Table 3: Relationship among different dimensions of decision making, achievement motivation

and life orientation (optimism and Pessimism). A positive correlation was found between Achievement
motivation and thoroughness decision making style, Achievement motivation and controlled decision-
making style, achievement motivation and optimising decision-making style. Optimism is found to be
positively correlated with controlled decision-making style and instinctive decision-making style.
Table 4: Comparison of achievement motivation, decision making and life orientation between
males and females.
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Table 4 reflects that there is a significant difference in achievement motivation among males and
females at 0.05 level of significance.
Summary of result –
HYPOTHESIS
HYPOTHESIS Individual high in achievement motivation ACCEPTED

NO. 1 will be high on life orientation level.
HYPOTHESIS There will be a positive correlation between ACCEPTED

NO. 2 achievement motivation and decision making.
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DISCUSSION-
The aim of the study was to assess the role of achievement need in young adults' decision making
and life orientation. Achievement motivation is conceived as a talent disposition which is manifested in
overt striving only when the individual perceives performance as instrumental to a sense of personal
accomplishment. Individuals with a high need for achievement plan, visualize, and believe that things can
go their way if they work for it. The results of the study revealed that these people tend to have a positive
attitude towards life. An individual with a high need for achievement decides and sets a moderate goal
and wants constant feedback so that the decision-making process for accomplishing the goal may become
easier. Motivation provides a significant groundwork for completing cognitive behaviours such as
preparation, organization, and decision-making. According to Bressler (2010), individuals with a high need
for achievement believe that things can go their way if they work for it, which shows a positive attitude
towards life. As a result, it was assumed that individuals with a high level of achievement motivation will
also have a high level of life orientation. Motivation provides a significant groundwork for completing
cognitive behaviours such as preparation, organization, decision-making, learning, and assessments
(Pintrich & Schunk, 1996).
For this, the hypothesis that was framed was: an individual high in achievement motivation will be
high in life orientation level. The result shows the correlation r =.32 (p 0.01 level of significance). The
second hypothesis was that there would be a positive correlation between achievement motivation and
decision making. The result shows the correlation r =.44 (p 0.01 level of significance).
A meta-Analysis by Christopher J. Collins (2004) found that achievement motivation was

significantly correlated with skill, effort and decision-making strategies. The author also found a significant
positive relationship r =.53(p<0.01 level of significance) between Thoroughness decision making style and
achievement motivation, which means that with using thoroughness style of decision making there will be
increase in achievement motivation of an individual. Indicators of the amount of information searched
include time on task and the number of information cells viewed (i.e., thoroughness). It is a kind of strategic
research, individual tries to find relevant information and carefully consider all the future consequences,
these consequences can affect the way individual orient towards life either in positive or negative way,
and in turn individual can feel motivated towards achieving certain goal. Promoting choice and
independence in decision making among students’ learning has a motivating influence. In doing this the
Pandey & Srivastava
students motivation increases and they work and develop their learning skills (Montgomery, 2001; Uresti
et al., 2002).
As a result, there is a positive relationship between decision making, achievement motivation, and
life orientation. People who have a strong desire to succeed tend to set modest goals with modest risks,
have expectations for future events, and frame decisions accordingly. Bressler (2010) also found that
individuals with a high need for achievement believe that things can go their way if they work for it, which
shows a positive attitude towards life. Consequently, it can be said that achievement motivation and an
optimistic life orientation are positively and significantly correlated with happiness. It is also concluded
that achievement motivation and learned optimism have significant variance on the happiness of students.
It means that people who have a greater level of achievement motivation most probably experience better
happiness and vice versa. Because people who have a high level of achievement motivation are expected
to tackle bad circumstances more conveniently as compared to those with a low level of achievement
motivation.
Controlled decision making and achievement motivation are found to have a positive co-
relationship r =.39 (p.01 level of significance); using a controlled decision-making style will increase
achievement motivation because the individual is calm and composed; emotions are under control; and
thus, the situation can be understood in a more positive manner. Negative emotional states (displeasure)
can lead to narrow-minded but careful decision-making; positive emotional states (pleasure) can lead to
broad decisions (Spraragen, M. 2013). So, the controlled decision-making, if controlled emotions are
positive or negative according to the situation, will have an impact on the orientation towards life.
Optimistic decision-making style is positively correlated with achievement motivation at r =.21 (p

0.05 level of significance). That means an increase in using an optimising decision-making style will lead to
an increase in achievement motivation. Luthans (2003) reported that individuals with a high need for
achievement are motivated to work harder, exhibit more goal-directed behaviour, and share a belief that
things will work out. Taking a decision is a cognitive process, whether it's about choosing a job or solving
everyday problems like buying a house, picking a vehicle, selecting a residence, and selecting a school.
when individuals are self-sufficient enough. They have the freedom to choose their employment,
occupations, and careers. As a result of this, a specific vocation or career is more driven and encouraged.
Their personality, attitudes, and values become a result of their career (Schneider, 1987). To live a
Pandey & Srivastava
successful life, an individual must make his or her own critical decisions related to various facets of life,
like education, employment, and social activities, which are entirely dependent on motivation and career
decision-making style. As a result, in today's fast-paced world, people with low motivation cannot compete
with those who are highly motivated.
A significant difference was found in achievement motivation between males and females at the
0.05 level of significance. The mean value of the females is higher than that of the males, indicating that
females have higher achievement motivation as compared to males. A study directed by Shekhar, C. Devi,
R. (2012) uncovered that female are altogether higher than males in terms of need for achievement.
Females who wanted to enter male-dominated professions were thought to have non-traditional life
histories and personalities in the past. Achievement motivation in men has been extensively studied.
However, it has rarely been studied from the point of view of women. It seems clear that women do have
the drive for academic achievement. Awan (2011) conducted research to determine academic self-concept
and achievement motivation. Academic achievement was found to be highly connected to achievement
motivation and self-concept. Girls were found to have significant gender differences in their favour.
All behaviours motivated by the need for achievement include two primary components: one is
being mentally ready to confront a challenge and the second is to find solutions to those hurdles which
women definitely carry with them. In the previous two decades, the number of women in the labour force
has risen considerably. Increased awareness of women's own potential, as well as increased economic
pressures affecting every stratum of our society, are major factors driving this movement.
Conclusion –
The findings highlight a positive correlation among decision making, achievement motivation, and
life orientation. A significant difference was found in achievement motivation between males and females,
indicating a higher need for achievement in females as compared to males, thereby focusing on women’s
capacity to be equally successful as men. It is concluded that highly motivated people can aim high to
achieve better careers and improve their living standards as compared to less motivated people. Any
increase in achievement motivation and/or optimism will have a positive impact on decision making
strategies, leading to systematic evaluation of options and avoiding negative consequences.
Pandey & Srivastava
Implications
As decision-making style is correlated with an orientation towards life, young adults can be
introduced to various ways of decision-making and behavioural sciences as a subject curriculum can be
introduced to them. Higher needs for achievement in females indicate their potential; various areas or
scopes where females are motivated to work can be worked on; this is not only important on an economic
or social level, but it will help the nation grow with the help of females' motivation towards their work.
The findings are also relevant for psychological and sociological theory building and practise with respect
to enhancing the achievement motivation of young adults in terms of academic success as well as an
overall optimistic orientation towards life.
Limitations of the study

This study's limitations include that the sample size is 100, which is small and hence not enough to
generalise the results of the study. The variables' achievement motivation, and orientation towards life
can also be explained by fear of failure, child rearing practices, and the personality of the individual.
Moreover, confounding variables were not included in the analyses. However, other variables (e.g., level
of education) may have influenced the outcomes. Future studies about optimism, gender, and success
should consider such confounding variables.
Scope for future research-

Further studies to have more valid generalised results can be conducted by sampling a diverse population.
The sample size can be increased. Future research can be conducted in relation to achievement motivation
and fear of failure, personality factors, and child rearing practices. Future research might include
consideration of the sex-role orientation of the subjects. Therefore, research on the relationships between
sex-role orientation and the constructs of achievement motivation and fear of success is needed.
Pandey & Srivastava
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The Youth Voice Journal (YVJ™) is the leading

international peer-reviewed journal publishing

Role of Need for Achievement on Decision making and Life

Prachi Pandey and Akancha Srivastava

• Published Online: 2022

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Restorative Justice for All (RJ4All) International Institute is an international Non-Governmental

First published in the UK in 2022 by RJ4All Publications

Database right RJ4All Publications (maker)

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

ISSN(online): 2056 – 2969

Role of Need for Achievement on Decision

Published in the Youth Voice Journal

Prachi Pandey1 and Akancha Srivastava2

Design/methodology/approach- The data was collected from the participants using a

Keywords: Decision-making, Life Orientation, Need for Achievement, Personality, Young

Need For Achievement

Achievement motivation can best be comprehended by looking at the implications of

As indicated by Atkinson and Feather (1966), "Achievement motivation is considered as an ability

Rationale of the Study

Characteristics of people with high achievement motivation incorporate an orientation toward

2. Need for Achievement and Decision Making

Motivation provides a significant groundwork to complete cognitive behaviour, such as

1. To study the impact of need of achievement on life orientation of young adults.

2. To study the impact of need of achievement on decision making of young adults.

Sample – 100 young adults, 50 males and 50 females.

Characteristics of the sample

Sample size, N 100

Number of Male participants 50

Number of female participants 50

Mean age of participants 23 years

Convenience sampling was employed, it is a non-probability sampling technique where subjects

Tools used to conduct research-

This scale consists of 7 dimensions –

RESULT AND INTERPRETATION-

Variable N Minimum Maximum Mean Std. Deviation

DM 100 46.00 107.00 83.64 9.48

AM 100 85.00 188.00 128.64 18.39

LO 100 3.00 24.00 13.92 3.9

DM- Decision making; AM- Achievement motivation; LO- Life orientation

* p < 0.05 level of significant

** p < 0.01 level of significant

DM- Decision making; AM- Achievement motivation; LO- Life orientation

SR .17 .40** -.15 -

OP .138 .032 .032 .070 -

PR -.11 -.018 -.12 .115 -.03 -

IN -.01** .451** -.02 .18 .08 .147 -

AM .534** .396** .098 -.081 .213* .007 .247 -

OPT .149 .294** .107 .190 .105 .030 .235* .189 -

** p < 0.01 level of significance

* p < 0.05 level of significance

TH- Thoroughness; CN- Control; HS-Hesitancy; SR-Social Resistance-Optimising; PR-Principled; IN-

Table 3: Relationship among different dimensions of decision making, achievement motivation

HYPOTHESIS Individual high in achievement motivation ACCEPTED

HYPOTHESIS There will be a positive correlation between ACCEPTED

A meta-Analysis by Christopher J. Collins (2004) found that achievement motivation was

Optimistic decision-making style is positively correlated with achievement motivation at r =.21 (p

Limitations of the study

Scope for future research-

Atkinson, J. W. Feather, NT (Eds.). (1966). A theory of achievement motivation.

Duncan, R. B. (1973). Multiple decision-making structures in adapting to environmental

Harrison, E. F. (1996). A process perspective on strategic decision making. Management decision.

IN -.01 .451 -.02 .18 .08 .147 -

AM .534 .396 .098 -.081 .213* .007 .247 -