Jh. Kerr et al., EFFECTS ON ARCHERY PERFORMANCE OF MANIPULATING METAMOTIVATIONAL STATEAND FELT AROUSAL, Perceptual and motor skills, 84(3), 1997, pp. 819-828
This study investigated the effect of the four different combinations
of metamotivational state and felt arousal level (telic-low, paratelic
-low, telic-high, paratelic-high) on archery performance. Skilled, ave
rage, and novice archers (n = 28) were voluntary subjects, randomly di
vided into 2 groups, balanced for ability. Each group performed 2 out
of the 4 experimental conditions. In this reversal theory-based field
experiment, relic and paratelic metamotivational states and arousal le
vel were manipulated prior to archery performance. The hypothesis that
archery performance would be superior under telic-low arousal conditi
ons was rejected, but evidence pointed to the possible importance of h
edonic tone in performance. Post hoc analysis showed differences betwe
en combined high (telic-low, paratelic-high) and combined low (telic-l
ow, paratelic-high) hedonic-tone groups which fell short of significan
ce. This observation is taken as justification for further exploration
of the relationship between hedonic tone and sports performance.