ManyGraphs: Crowd-sourced causal models of self-determination theory

Social scientists increasingly recognize the importance of "formal theory" - theories specified as clear and falsifiable propositions - to advance scientific knowledge. In the science of human behavior and motivation, self-determination theory (SDT) is among the most widely used theories, arguing that humans have innate and universal needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness.

However, the theory is not yet fully formalized - it is described largely as verbal statements, leaving substantial room for divergent interpretation. To address this, we propose a "ManyGraphs" approach. We will survey self-identified SDT researchers through conferences and mailing lists, and ask them to specify the theory in the form of a causal graph, to the best of their ability. In doing so, we will distill broad community knowledge into a testable and falsifiable causal model, supporting further iteration and ultimately better interventions to support wellbeing and sustained motivation.