Last winter I posted a survey request on this forum, inviting participants to take part in my research about the motivations and goals of IT experts. This study has been completed, and I would like to share the results with you.
Here’s the brief abstract, with a link to the paper if you want to see it.

Experienced IT workers (N = 203) who were users of online technology discussion groups completed surveys about perceived competence and goals (learning/mastery goals, performance-approach goals, intrinsic and extrinsic rewards, and future-oriented perceived utility goals) for continued expertise development. The sample as a whole scored higher on intrinsic motivators than on extrinsic motivators, and scored high on perceived competence, as would be expected for developing experts. A cluster analysis was performed on standardized scores in order to create profiles of multiple goals. Three groups were found: Cluster 1 scored relatively low (as compared to others) on all goal variables and on perceived competence; Cluster 2 scored relatively high on intrinsic goals and perceived competence and relatively low on extrinsic goals; and Cluster 3 scored relatively high on extrinsic goals and relatively low on intrinsic goals and perceived competence. Therefore, while the participants reported that their expertise development was motivated more intrinsically than extrinsically, some depended relatively more on extrinsic rewards and had lower perceived competence than their peers. This may cause their expertise development to have a lower trajectory, in which they progress more slowly and with less satisfaction and enjoyment. Participants of Cluster 1 had spent significantly more time in the field than those in other clusters; their lower means could indicate either burnout or an interest in mentoring others that would not reveal itself in personal achievement goals.

The full dissertation in PDF format can be downloaded from http://abeesley.home.comcast.net/ITdissertation.pdf.
If you have questions, please contact me at abeesley at ou.edu.

Thanks very much to everyone who participated!
Andrea Beesley