A Study on the Relationship Between Employee Motivation and Job Satisfaction

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between employee motivation and job satisfaction within contemporary organizations, an area of enduring importance to human resource management and organizational behaviour. Drawing on established motivational theories, the research examines how intrinsic and extrinsic motivational factors influence the degree to which employees feel satisfied with their work. A quantitative, cross-sectional survey design was adopted, and primary data were collected from a sample of 120 employees working across service and manufacturing organizations using a structured questionnaire based on validated five-point Likert scales. The collected data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), employing descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression. The reliability analysis confirmed that the measurement scales were internally consistent, with Cronbach's alpha values exceeding the accepted threshold of 0.70. The correlation analysis revealed a strong, positive and statistically significant relationship between employee motivation and job satisfaction (r = 0.68, p < 0.01). Regression results further indicated that motivational factors collectively explained approximately 52 percent of the variance in job satisfaction, with intrinsic motivation emerging as a stronger predictor than extrinsic motivation. The findings reinforce the view that organizations seeking to enhance job satisfaction should invest in motivational strategies that address both the psychological and material needs of employees. The study contributes to the existing literature by providing empirical evidence from a contemporary workforce and offers practical recommendations for managers and policymakers. Limitations relating to sample size and cross-sectional design are acknowledged, and directions for future research are suggested.

Keywords

• employee motivation
• job satisfaction
• intrinsic motivation
• extrinsic motivation
• organizational behaviour
• SPSS
• regression analysis

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• A Study on the Relationship Between Employee Motivation and Job Satisfaction2026 • Vol. 12, Issue 1