EFFECTS ON ARCHERY PERFORMANCE OF MANIPULATING METAMOTIVATIONAL STATEAND FELT AROUSAL

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.