Development of the Japanese Version of the Original and Short Work Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivation Scale

Work motivation is important with regard to many organizational outcomes, including employee mental health and productivity. The Japanese workforce suffers from low levels of work motivation, associated with poor mental health and compromised productivity. One established measure of work motivation is the Work Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivation Scale (WEIMS), based on the Self-Determination Theory (SDT). However, the Japanese version of WEIMS (JWEIMS) has yet to be developed. Likewise, the Japanese version of the short form WEIMS (SWEIMS) does not exist, either (JSWEIMS). This study aimed to validate JWEIMS and JSWEIMS. Japanese employees (n = 165) responded to JWEIMS, and the data were analyzed through a minimum average partial, parallel analysis, and exploratory factor analysis with the internal consistencies identified. Both JWEIMS and JSWEIMS demonstrated a three-factor structure. Internal consistencies were high. In both versions, more intrinsic types of motivation were categorized as one factor. JWEIMS and JSWEIMS are the only work motivation scales established on SDT in Japanese. The factor structure difference from the original scales highlights the collectivistic and success-driven nature of Japanese culture, relative to Canadian and UK cultures.