Aaron and Mike are both runners and are each in the process of trying to choose one of three different runs that they can take: one easy run, one medium-difficulty run, and one challenging run. Assume that Aaron has a high need for achievement and that Mike has a low need for achievement. If we apply the results from research on need for achievement to this situation, we would expect Aaron to choose the ____________ run while Mike would likely opt for the ____________ run.
A)medium-difficulty; easy or challenging run
B)medium-difficulty or challenging; easy or medium-difficulty
C)challenging; easy or medium-difficulty
D)challenging; medium-difficulty

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Research on need for achievement suggests that individuals with a high need for achievement tend to choose tasks of moderate difficulty, neither too easy nor too hard, to ensure a reasonable chance of success while still feeling challenged. Therefore, Aaron is likely to choose the medium-difficulty run. On the other hand, individuals with a low need for achievement might avoid tasks that are perceived as challenging due to fear of failure, making it likely that Mike would opt for the easy or potentially the challenging run if he wishes to avoid the effort associated with moderate challenges.

Aaron and Mike Are Both Runners and Are Each in the Process