Study of Maori achievement motivation; achievement motivation and modal personality in a group of highly acculturated Maoris

Abstract

This study is concerned with the levels and pattern of achievement motivation among highly acculturated Maori Teachers’ College students. Ritchie (1956), investigating basic personality patterns of a Maori community, postulated the following hypothesis “A role demarcation into achievers and non-achievers occurs at some stage of the pre-adult development and once this differentiation is made it means that around the central core of conforming members there will be grouped deviants whose common characteristic will be an achievement oriented personality configuration" (pp.27-28). This hypothesis was confirmed, but qualified, because further investigation was thought necessary by Ritchie. Later investigators, Jane Ritchie (1957), Mulligan (1957) and Earle (1958) testing the same hypothesis, all rejected it. Although the majority of the members of the Maori culture can be classified as non-achievers, there is no doubt that many do aspire to, and reach, positions in the pakeha community which could not have been attained without a strong achievement motive. It was because of the conflicting evidence of investigators working in the same community, and the obvious evidence that there did exist Maori achievers and non-achievers that this study was undertaken.