Cognitive, emotional, and behavioural connotations of task and ego goal orientation profiles: An ideographic approach using hierarchical class analysis

The study of goal perspectives theory mainly through the investigation of a chievement goal orientations, is popular in contemporary sport and exercise psychology Although results have been consistent and conceptually coherent , only nomothetic approaches have been used. This study used hierarchical c lass (hiclass) analysis to provide in-depth ideographic profiles of four cr icketers, chosen from a group of 72 players, who differed in their goal ori entations profile. The four hiclass profiles showed similar psychological c haracteristics to the ones proposed by goal orientations theory. The high t ask oriented players thigh task-high ego and high task-low ego), and the hi gh ego-low task player; showed move adaptive profiles than the low task-low ego oriented player The players emphasised situations congruent with their goal orientations such that the high task-low ego oriented player emphasis ed personal situations related to effort and persistence, and the high task -high ego oriented player emphasised personal and normative situations equa lly showing the most motivationally adaptive profile. The high ego-low task oriented player emphasised normative situations, while the low cask-low eg o oriented player emphasised critical pre-competitive situations and displa yed the least adaptive and defined profile. The use of ideographic analyses is recommended and can compliment nomothetic studies.