Public service motivation (PSM) has been an area of interest to many researchers, from as early as the 1900s (Perry & Porter, 1982), and there is much more interest generated in the field in recent years (Ritz, Brewer, & Newmann, 2016). Most importantly, the study of PSM directly impacts employee motivation, management practices such as hiring and compensating, and organizational performance in the public service (Charbonneau & Van Ryzin, 2017). Hence, researchers and practitioners are continually studying antecedents and consequences that can positively impact PSM, improve performance in public service organizations. At the same time investigate and reduce those antecedents and consequences that may negatively impact public service employee’s motivation and organizational performance.
Therefore, the researcher undertakes this study to synthesis literature and contribute to the existing literature on PSM by employing a meta-analysis. This study adds to the existing literature by drawing on the model of process theory of PSM to investigate the different sociohistorical and demographical factors, antecedents (under motivational context), and outcomes that impact PSM. The study investigates the strength of these relationships with PSM. To highlight some of the results of the study, age was found to have a positive impact on PSM. On the other hand, gender did not show any effect on PSM and resulted in furnishing a nonsignificant result. Looking to the positive outcomes of PSM, such as job satisfaction and organizational commitment, these relationships with PSM supported previous studies. Furthermore, turnover intention and stress furnished a negative relationship with PSM, which is in line with the literature.