Perceived Resources in Collegiate and Professional Sport Domains

Date of Award

5-2017

Document Type

Undergraduate Capstone Project

Degree Name

M.A.

Organizational Unit

Graduate School of Professional Psychology

First Advisor

Artur Poczwardowski

Second Advisor

Hannah Katz

Keywords

Athlete, Intrinsic motivation, Self determination, Environmental psychology

Abstract

An athlete’s motivation is central to the ability of coaches and consultants to produce positive results in their work. Intrinsic motivation is associated not just with performance, but with wellbeing factors such as self-esteem, self-actualization, and optimism (Ryan & Deci, 2000). Essential to the athlete’s ability to achieve these more intrinsic forms of motivation are the athlete’s perception of the resources available to them. Therefore, motivation is influenced by a person’s individual appraisal of their available contextual resources (Beltman & Volet, 2007). There is a paucity of literature regarding how individual appraisal of available resources may influence an athlete’s ability to achieve more intrinsic forms of motivation. Thus, the purpose of this study is to use a qualitative design to assess perceived resources in collegiate and professional sport domains. This may contribute internally valid perceptions of resources affording the development of a quantitative measure of perceived resources specific to the athletic domain and further study of the relationship between resources and motivation. Eight coaches and athletes participated in semi structured interviews. While sports medicine, physical conditioning, coach proficiency, and facilities were mentioned as impactful by all; coaches and athletes had differing perceptions of importance and requisite resources. Further research exploring potential moderating factors such as resiliency, is indicated.

Publication Statement

Copyright is held by the author. Permanently suppressed.

Extent

29 pages

This document is currently not available here.



Share

COinS