THE EFFECTS OF SELF-EFFICACY AND GOAL-SETTING ON BOWLING PERFORMANCE

The present study investigated the effect of three goal-setting groups (self-set, assigned, and control) and three levels of self-efficacy ( low, medium, and high) on bowling performance of college students (N = 288). The performance/retention trials were analyzed in a 3 x 2 x 10 (Goal Conditions x Self-Efficacy Levels x Trials) ANCOVA design, with repeated measures on the last factor and baseline performance as the c ovariate. Results of the data analysis revealed a significant main eff ect for self-efficacy (SE) levels for males and females. Individuals a t high and medium SE levels performed significantly better than those at a low SE level, The nonsignificant main effect for goal groups was attributed to the spontaneous goal-setting behavior of the control gro up. Finally, there was a main effect for trials and planned comparison s indicated that as trials progressed female students improved. Eviden ce of a performance plateau was present for male students, as they sho wed marginal improvement across trials.