| Abstract: | Presents the obituary of John William Atkinson, who died on October 27, 2003, in Chelsea, Michigan, at the age of 79. From the 1950s Atkinson was a leader in establishing motivation as a distinct field of study. His belief that scientific progress came from conceptual breakthroughs fueled his formulation and reformulation of a theory of motivation. He also recognized the importance of measurement in science, maintaining a career-long interest in the refinement of measures of human motivation, especially by means of the content analysis of imaginative thought. His discipline-changing ideas were followed around the world. In recognition, he received the Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award from the American Psychological Association in 1979. Atkinson's life and further career accomplishments are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
