Personal Trait Predicting Work Engagement in Crowdsourcing through Achievement Goals: Mediation Analyses

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to investigate how personal traits influence work engagement on crowdsourcing platform through achievement goals. This study uses Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (RST) in order to explain initial energization of behavior as well as Achievement goal theory's constructs to explain direction of this energy. The indirect effects of Fight-Flight-Freeze system (FFFS) through performance approach and performance avoidance goals on work engagement has been studied. The results of current study show that avoidance based personal trait FFFS indirectly relates to work engagement through performance approach and performance avoidance goals, such as FFFS positively predicts work engagement through performance approach goals and negatively predict work engagement through performance avoidance goals. In addition, this study proves that FFFS positively predict adoption of both performance approach and performance avoidance goals. Hence, promoting adoption of performance approach goals is a good way for improving workers' work engagement. These results are important for crowdsourcing platform managers and could help them to improve work engagement of workers without providing additional reward.