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Motivational Sources Inventory (MSI)

Motivational Sources Inventory (MSI) Test

Understand what drives an employee at work in about 6 minutes. Use 30 targeted items to guide onboarding, coaching, and development with clear, actionable motivation insights.

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Questions: 306 minutes

Hi! My name is Freudly, i am an AI therapist, I will give you an interpretation of the test after you complete it.

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

19802 views

1797 completions

1515 likes

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

18/42

Goal Internalization (GI)

Measures how strongly a person pursues goals because they align with personally internalized values and beliefs.

Low internalization

Moderate internalization

High internalization

6 – 17: Low internalization | 18 – 34: Moderate internalization | 35 – 42: High internalization

A score of 18 falls in the Moderate internalization range, suggesting goals are partly guided by personal values but may still rely on external structure or expectations.

example score

32/42

Internal Self-Concept (IS)

Measures how strongly a person is motivated by aligning work behavior with their own standards, values, and sense of competence.

Lower internal orientation

Balanced internal orientation

Strong internal orientation

6 – 23: Lower internal orientation | 24 – 38: Balanced internal orientation | 39 – 42: Strong internal orientation

A score of 32 falls in the Balanced internal orientation range, suggesting motivation is often supported by personal standards and self-esteem while still influenced by external factors.

example score

32/42

External Self-Concept (ES)

Measures how strongly a person is motivated by social approval, recognition, and support from colleagues or a valued group.

Low

Moderate

High

6 – 20: Low | 21 – 32: Moderate | 33 – 42: High

A score of 32 indicates a moderate reliance on recognition and group acceptance, with social feedback being important but not the primary driver of motivation.

example score

18/42

Instrumental Motivation (IM)

Instrumental Motivation measures the extent to which a person is driven by external, tangible rewards such as pay, bonuses, and material benefits.

Low

Moderate

High

6 – 17: Low | 18 – 35: Moderate | 36 – 42: High

A score of 18 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting tangible rewards can support motivation but are not the primary driver.

example score

13/42

Intrinsic Processes (IP)

Measures the extent to which a person is motivated by enjoyment and engagement in the work process itself rather than external rewards or outcomes.

Low intrinsic focus

Moderate intrinsic focus

High intrinsic focus

6 – 16: Low intrinsic focus | 17 – 31: Moderate intrinsic focus | 32 – 42: High intrinsic focus

A score of 13 falls in the Low intrinsic focus range, suggesting the work process itself is a relatively weaker driver compared with more external or outcome-based motivators.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

People Managers

41%OF USERS

Managers take it to understand what motivates each team member so they can tailor feedback, goals, and recognition.

HR and Talent Teams

34%OF USERS

HR professionals use it during hiring, onboarding, and development planning to align roles and rewards with individual drivers.

Employees Seeking Clarity

25%OF USERS

Employees take it to pinpoint what energizes them at work and communicate their needs for growth, stability, or recognition.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

What You’ll See After You Finish the Test

Scale Results
— Explained Clearly

Your scores across each test scale, translated into plain, usable insights. Not just numbers, but what they actually mean for your daily life, emotional state, and overall well-being.

AI-Powered
Interpretation

A structured, clinically grounded explanation. Our AI analyzes patterns and relationships between scales to provide a coherent interpretation — without alarmist language.

Statistical
Comparison

See how you compare to others. Your scores are placed in a statistical context, showing percentiles and trends based on anonymized platform data to help you understand what`s typical.

Practical
Recommendations

Actionable guidance tailored to your profile. Receive clear, realistic suggestions you can apply immediately — focused on coping, self-regulation, and realistic next steps.

AI-Detected
Insights

Key patterns you might not notice on your own. Surfacing subtle connections in your responses that help you better understand what may be driving your current results.

Discuss with
an AI Psychologist

Clarify, reflect, and explore right away. Talk through your outcomes, ask questions, and explore meanings in a calm, non-diagnostic dialogue environment.

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Used in 52+ countries

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you finish the test, your results will be compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of the benchmarks we use to place your score in context.

Internalization of a Goal (IoaG)

Average

21.5

Normal range

15.3 — 27.7

min.

max.

majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.

Internal Self-Concept (IS)

Average

25.3

Normal range

20.3 — 30.2

min.

max.

majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.

External Self-Concept (ES)

Average

19.6

Normal range

14 — 25.2

min.

max.

majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.

Instrumental Motivation (IM)

Average

Normal range

11.2 — 20.9

min.

max.

majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.

Internal Processes (IP)

Average

32.4

Normal range

26.4 — 38.5

min.

max.

majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

Any questions left?

What does this assessment measure?

It identifies which motivational sources most influence work behavior in an organizational setting. Results summarize the relative strength of five motivation areas.

How long does it take to complete, and how many items are included?

Completion typically takes about 6 minutes. The questionnaire includes 30 items.

How should responses be selected?

Select the option that best reflects typical behavior or preferences at work. Use the first choice that seems accurate rather than overanalyzing.

Is there a correct or incorrect score?

No, scores describe patterns of motivation rather than performance or ability. Higher scores indicate stronger emphasis on a given motivational source.

How are results commonly used in the workplace?

Results can support onboarding, coaching, development planning, and role alignment. They help target incentives and working conditions that are more likely to sustain motivation.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Motivational Sources Inventory (MSI) Test

arrange work motivation

This measure is designed to clarify patterns of work-related motivation in organizational settings. The Motivational Sources Inventory (MSI) provides a brief, structured self-report format for identifying motivational drivers that may influence engagement and performance.

The questionnaire contains 30 items and typically takes about 6 minutes to complete. Results are intended to support applied decision-making (e.g., onboarding, coaching, and development planning) by organizing responses into interpretable motivational themes. Findings from the Motivational Sources Inventory (MSI) should be considered in conjunction with other relevant information (e.g., role demands, context, and supervisor observations) rather than used as a stand-alone basis for high-stakes decisions.

Author: edward-l-deci, richard-m-ryan

Literature: Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior. Plenum Press. 1985.; Barbuto, J. E., & Scholl, R. W. Motivation sources inventory: Development and validation of new scales to measure an integrative taxonomy of motivation. Psychological Reports. 1998.

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