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Situational Motivation Scale (SIMS)

Situational Motivation Scale (SIMS) Test

Understand what drives your engagement in a specific moment in just 3 minutes. This quick 16 item snapshot clarifies motivation types to guide coaching, learning, or team performance.

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Questions: 163 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

21,445 views

2,036 completions

1,752 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

23/28

Amotivation (A)

Amotivation measures the extent to which a person feels a lack of intention or purpose to engage in the activity in the current situation.

Low

Moderate

High

4 – 11: Low | 12 – 19: Moderate | 20 – 28: High

A score of 23 falls in the High range, suggesting the activity currently feels less meaningful or worth the effort, with reduced intention to engage.

example score

10/28

External Regulation (ER)

Measures how strongly your engagement in the activity is driven by external demands, rewards, or avoidance of negative consequences.

Low external regulation

Moderate external regulation

High external regulation

4 – 12: Low external regulation | 13 – 20: Moderate external regulation | 21 – 28: High external regulation

A score of 10 indicates low external regulation, suggesting your involvement is only minimally influenced by outside pressure or rewards in this situation.

example score

26/28

Identified Regulation (IR)

Identified regulation measures how strongly you engage in an activity because its goal feels personally important and aligned with your values.

Low

Moderate

High

4 – 12: Low | 13 – 20: Moderate | 21 – 28: High

A score of 26 indicates high identified regulation, suggesting you are currently driven mainly by the personally meaningful outcomes of the activity rather than external pressure or enjoyment of the process.

example score

16/28

Intrinsic Motivation (IM)

Measures how strongly a person is motivated to engage in an activity for enjoyment and personal interest in the process itself.

Low

Moderate

High

4 – 12: Low | 13 – 20: Moderate | 21 – 28: High

A score of 16 indicates a moderate level of intrinsic motivation, suggesting some enjoyment and personal engagement in the activity alongside other possible drivers.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Students and learners

41%OF USERS

People in school, college, or courses use it to see what’s driving them to study or complete a specific assignment right now.

Managers and HR specialists

34%OF USERS

Leaders take it to understand what motivates employees in a particular task or project and adjust incentives or support.

Coaching and therapy clients

25%OF USERS

People working on goals use it to clarify whether their current effort comes from enjoyment, values, pressure, or a lack of purpose.

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

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

Scale Results
— Explained Clearly

Your scores across each test scale are translated into plain, usable insights. You won’t just get numbers — you’ll learn how your results impact your daily life, emotional state, and overall well-being.

AI-Powered
Interpretation

You’ll receive a structured, clinically-grounded explanation. Our AI analyzes patterns and relationships between scales to provide a coherent interpretation, without exaggerated language.

Statistical
Comparison

See how your results compare to others. Anonymized platform data is used to create a percentile scale, which identifies whether your results are typical.

Practical
Recommendations

You’ll receive clear, actionable guidance tailored to your profile. These easy-to-implement suggestions focus on coping, self-regulation, and realistic next steps.

AI-Powered
Insights

Get insights on behavioral and thought patterns you might not notice on your own. By uncovering subtle connections between your responses, you’ll better understand what may be driving your current results.

Discuss with
an AI Therapist

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

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Used in 52+ countries

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Amotivation (A)

Average

10.1

Normal range

6.2 — 14

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

External Regulation (ER)

Average

14.7

Normal range

11 — 18.3

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Identified Regulation (IR)

Average

17.8

Normal range

14.1 — 21.5

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Intrinsic motivation (Im)

Average

11.5

Normal range

7.4 — 15.7

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this questionnaire measure?

It measures current motivation for a specific activity or situation. It yields four scores: intrinsic motivation, identified regulation, external regulation, and amotivation.

How should the statements be rated?

Rate each statement based on how well it matches feelings during the activity being assessed. Use the full response scale and select the single best option for each item.

What time frame should be considered when responding?

Responses should reflect motivation in the present moment or the immediate situation. Do not base answers on general habits or long-term preferences.

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

The questionnaire includes 16 items and typically takes about 3 minutes to complete. Completion time may vary slightly depending on reading pace.

How are the results interpreted?

Higher scores indicate greater endorsement of that motivation type in the assessed situation. The scores describe the current motivational profile and are not a diagnostic outcome.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Situational Motivation Scale (SIMS) Test - Symptoms and Signs

self-determination work motivation

This measure is designed to assess an individual’s momentary reasons for engaging in a specific activity. The Situational Motivation Scale (SIMS) provides a brief self-report snapshot of current motivational orientation in a given context.

The instrument includes 16 items and typically takes about 3 minutes to complete. Respondents rate statements reflecting distinct types of regulation commonly described within self-determination theory (e.g., intrinsic motivation, identified regulation, external regulation, and amotivation). Scores are used to characterize the relative prominence of these motivational states at the time of assessment and may support clinical, educational, coaching, or organizational case formulation when interpreted alongside other sources of information.

The Situational Motivation Scale (SIMS) was developed by Luc G. Pelletier.

Author: edward-l-deci, Luc G. Pelletier, richard-m-ryan, robert-j-vallerand

Literature: Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior. Plenum Press. 1985.; Guay, F., Vallerand, R. J., & Blanchard, C. On the assessment of situational intrinsic and extrinsic motivation: The Situational Motivation Scale (SIMS). Motivation and Emotion. 2000.

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