Mr. Lochbaum et Gc. Roberts, GOAL ORIENTATIONS AND PERCEPTIONS OF THE SPORT EXPERIENCE, Journal of sport & exercise psychology, 15(2), 1993, pp. 160-171
Nicholls's (1984a, 1984b, 1989) conceptual framework was used to study
the relationship between two implicit goal orientations (task and ego
) and achievement behaviors. This study examined the relationship betw
een the goal orientations and (a) beliefs concerning determinants of s
uccess, (b) competition and practice strategies, (c) practice benefits
, and (d) enjoyment. Subjects were 182 male and 114 female high school
athletes who competed in at least one sport during the 1989-1990 scho
ol year. Factor analyses were conducted to determine the composition o
f the relevant factors. Ten factors emerged. Canonical analysis was em
ployed to determine the relationship between goal orientations and the
10 subscales. The results, consistent with the hypotheses, showed tha
t athletes with a task orientation focused on adaptive achievement str
ategies whereas athletes with an ego orientation focused on potentiall
y maladaptive achievement strategies. The implications of the results
to sport participation are discussed.