Lawler, Edward E. III: Eighth Recipient, SIOP Distinguished Scientific Contributions Award

Edward Emmet Lawler III received his PhD in psychology from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1964. His early work while at Yale University (1964–1972) helped define the modern field of organizational behavior. His theory development and empirical research included a seminal work [Page 855]with Lyman W. Porter, Managerial Attitudes and Performance (1968), that proposed and found empirical support for what came to be known as the value expectancy theory of motivation. The value expectancy model explains the effort expended and performance achieved by employees as a dynamic flow between antecedents of performance—the attitudes, expectations, and cognitions of the employee—and the outcomes of performance.

This model expanded the range of variables believed to influence performance and includes feedback loops that show that previous experiences lead to ...