Questionable necessity effects of basic psychological needs at work: A comment on Ding and Kuvaas (2025)

In necessary condition analysis (NCA), a (semi-) empty space in the upper-left corner in a XY-plot is taken to indicate that a low value on X precludes a high value on Y, i.e., that X is necessary for Y. Necessity effects are quantified as the size of the (semi-) empty space. Ding and Kuvaas reported statistically significant necessity effects, as estimated by NCA, and concluded that basic psychological needs are necessary for employees’ optimal development. However, here we show that the necessity effects reported by Ding and Kuvaas were not significantly stronger than could be expected due to correlations between the variables. Therefore, it is premature to claim that basic psychological needs are necessary for employees’ optimal development and the conclusion by Ding and Kuvaas in this regard can be challenged. We recommend researchers using NCA to extend their analyses by estimating a “range of spuriousness”, i.e., how strong the necessity effect can be expected to be due to the correlation between X and Y. If the estimated necessity effect falls within (or below) the range of spuriousness, researchers should refrain from concluding that X is necessary for Y.