TASK AND EGO ORIENTATION AND INTRINSIC MOTIVATION IN SPORT

The focus of this paper is on the theoretical and empirical interdepen dencies between goal perspectives, or ways of judging one's competence and subjectively defining success, and intrinsic motivation in the sp ort domain. First, the conceptual links between goal perspective theor y (Nicholls, 1989) and Deci and Ryan's cognitive evaluation theory (19 85) are outlined. Drawing from both of these frameworks, it is presume d that a task-involved goal perspective should foster intrinsic motiva tion while an ego-involved goal perspective is more likely to lead to decreased intrinsic motivation. Second, recent investigations which ha ve examined the relationship of situationally-induced task and/or ego involvement and intrinsic motivation in the classroom and, in particul ar, sport are reviewed. Finally, research across two samples is presen ted which determined the association between dispositional goal perspe ctives (as measured by the Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionn aire) and indices of intrinsic motivation (as measured by the Intrinsi c Motivation Inventory). The results were consistent with theoretical predictions and provide converging evidence for the construct validity of the TEOSQ. The paper concludes with future directions for work on goal perspectives and intrinsic motivation in sport.