Week 2 - Motivation

Question 1

What is Motivation? (Sage 1977)

Answer 1

“The direction and intensity of one’s effort”

Question 2

What is Self Determination theory? (Deci and Ryan, 1985,2000)

Answer 2

Focus + extent to which behaviors such as sport and exercise participation undertaken voluntarily.
Not controlled by external agent(coach) or contingency (reward)

General theory on what motivates people (as opposed to how)

Assumption: humans growth oriented organisms who actively seek optimal challenges and new learning experiences to master
Inherent tendency for growth is manifested within SDT through concept of intrinsic motivation.
World of sport and exercise use rewards extensively (medals,trophies,money)

Question 3

What are the three basic psychological needs proposed in SDT?

Answer 3

Autonomy - People need to feel in control of own behaviors and goals.
Relatedness - Need to experience a sense of belonging and attachment to other people
Competence - People need to gain mastery of tasks and learn different skills.

Question 4

What is achievement goal theory? (Nicholls, 1989)

Answer 4

Understanding the role of competence or ability. A theory of motivation that focuses on differences in how individuals evaluate competence and define success and failure.

Question 5

What are the goal orientations involved in AGT?

Answer 5

Mastery orientation: take pride in progressive improvement of knowledge and ability relative to their own past performances. Self referenced, focus on improving ability, one step at a time, maintaining high perceptions.
Ego Orientation: Intent on demonstrating superiority over others (motivated by social comparison.) Other referenced perceptions of conpettence. Current ability is more important, superior to others, equal with less effort. Outcome orientation, non conductive maintaining perceptions high competence.

Question 6

What is attribution theory? (Wiener, 1985; 1986)

Answer 6

Attributions = specific causes used to explain outcome/behaviour - may not be the actual cause perceived to be the cause.
Can effect expectations and emotional reactions (Influence future achievement motivation)

Question 7

How are attributions arranged?

Answer 7

Locus of Causality
Locus of Stability

Ability
Effort
Task Difficulty
Luck

Question 8

High Achievers vs Low Achievers

Answer 8

Attribute success to internal factors
Failures is attributed to external factors
Approach behaviours

vs

Attribute success to external factors
Failures to internal factors
Avoidance behaviour