There are six types of motivation. Take this interactive quiz to learn yours and boost your success at work

Are you driven by autonomy, recognition, wealth, comfort, security or friendship? Knowing your motivational style could help you realise your goals.

Pursuing a goal can sometimes feel like climbing a mountain. The peak seems deceptively close when you set out on your journey. Halfway through, however, and it may feel no nearer. You’re hungry, thirsty and out of breath, while scrambling up increasingly steep and slippery slopes. The temptation to give up is all too real – and the only thing keeping you on that path is your motivation. 

Psychologists define motivation as "the impetus that gives purpose or direction to behaviour". It is known to come in various flavours – ranging from curiosity to fame and fortune. Some people enjoy the physical strain that comes from climbing a mountain; others might be aiming for the view or the buried treasure at its peak.

The psychologist Ian MacRae and I have designed an anonymised study which aims to investigate the ways people manage their motivation and its consequences. Anyone can take the quiz – the questions should take just a few minutes to complete, after which you will receive a personalised report that tells you what your primary source of motivation is in the workplace. Just click here and find out whether you are a Self Starter, driven by autonomy; a High Flier, driven by public recognition; a Bridge Builder, driven by social affiliation; a Wealth Builder, driven by financial compensation; a ChillMaxxer, driven by flexible and convenient conditions, or a Solid Grounder, seeking stability.

The aim is self-awareness: by recognising what fuels your fire, you will be able to identify the best strategies to feed those flames. What follows is an explanation of the science behind the study, and some tips on the ways that you can put your new-found knowledge into practice. 

Solving the mystery of human behaviour

Human behaviour is driven both by internal and external forces. A student, for example, may read a book on physics because they are curious, or because a teacher has told them that they must do so, to avoid getting a detention. A tennis player, meanwhile, may hit the court for the sheer pleasure of the game, or because they have been pressured into it by a pushy parent. Our goals may also be influenced by society's broader expectations; we might seek promotion because we know that high status is valued by others, even if we have no real interest in the role and would be happier staying where we are; we may desire six-pack abdominal muscles because of all the images of perfectly flat stomachs that we see in lifestyle magazines.

These two different kinds of drive are labelled as "intrinsic" and "extrinsic" motivations, and the difference is often marked by feelings of autonomy. Are you doing something because you genuinely want to do it, or because you feel that you have to do it?

Take part – a study about our motivation

We'd like to hear about your motivation – the forces driving you towards your goals. To take part in our anonymous study, complete this short questionnaire which we've designed with the psychologist Ian MacRae. You'll learn more about your driving motivations in a personalised report and help inform the results we'll publish on BBC.com later this year.

If you want to save or share your results, just copy the URL of the final report.

According to "self-determination theory" (or SDT for short) the intrinsic "want to" motivators lead to better outcomes than the extrinsic "have to" motivators.

There is some good evidence to support this notion.

In a series of studies by Marina Milyavskaya, associate professor of psychology at Carleton University in Canada and colleagues, the researchers surveyed 344 undergraduates about their objectives for the next semester – which included getting good grades, finding a job, losing weight, or getting over their exes.

As self-determination........

© BBC