Understanding motivation in sport: An experimental test of achievement goal and self determination theories

This paper presents an experimental test of two contemporary motivation theories in the physical domain. The study combined experimentally-induced achievement goal involvement with autonomous and controlling communication styles based on self determination theory to examine young people’s enjoyment, free-choice behavior and performance in relation to a golf task. Results showed that those in the autonomous condition, regardless of their goal involvement, reported greater enjoyment, persisted longer at the task and performed better than those in the controlling communication condition. Participants in the task involved condition performed better than those in the ego involved condition. Findings point to the need for further studies that test multiple theories in sport. The motivational impact of goal involvement may be better understood when considered concurrently with the autonomous or controlling nature of the context. Promoting autonomy and task involvement is likely to enhance positive affect and adaptive behaviors in sport among young people.