Goal orientation and beliefs about the causes of success among Greek track and field athletes.

Full Abstract

This study employed Nicholls' social-cognitive approach to achievement motivation along with beliefs about the causes of success. The aims of the study were (a) to test the factor structure of the Greek adaptation of the Perception of Success Questionnaire and the Beliefs about the Causes of Sport Success Questionnaire in a sample of Greek track and field athletes, (b) to explore goal orientation and beliefs about the causes of success in the same sample of track and field athletes, and (c) to interpret both factor structures together, according to the respective theoretical frameworks of achievement motivation. The results verified the task and ego goal orientation dimensions for the Perception of Success Questionnaire. The proposed dimensions for the Beliefs about the Causes of Sport Success Questionnaire were also supported. Two dimensions were found when the two sets of factors were conjointly described, named "winning by all means" and "working hard," which might act as an alternative framework when dealing with achievement issues in sports.

Author information

Author/s: Veligekas, Panayiotis (P); Mylonas, Kostas (K); Zervas, Yannis (Y);

Affiliation: The University of Athens, Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, 41, Ethnikis Antistasis Str., 172 37, Athens, Greece. pveligekas(-atsign-)phed.uoa.gr

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article

Journal: Perceptual and motor skills (Percept Mot Skills), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Dec; vol 105 (issue 3 Pt 1) : pp 927-38

Dates: Created 2008/01/30; Completed 2008/02/07;

PMID: 18229548, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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