Motivation for physical activity in children: a moving matter in need for study

Motivation for physical activity in children below the age of 12 years is a largely underrepresented issue in contemporary research. Although engagement in sufficient physical activity is highly important for children's current and later health, relatively little is known of the factors that motivate children to be physically active. Various theories have been developed in an attempt to explain motivation toward physical activity in adults. Recent developments have focussed on integrating constructs of these theories in order to attain a comprehensive account of motivated behavior. The relationships between different motivational constructs have generally been investigated in healthy adolescents and adults. This manuscript outlines why more theoretically driven research into children's motivation toward physical activity is needed. Constructs stemming from various motivational theories and their interrelationship as evidenced in youth and adults will be summarized. The current state of research on the applicability of these motivational constructs to children, and the generalizability of the interrelationship between the constructs to child samples will be outlined. A deeper insight into the motivational determinants of physical activity participation in children could inform the design of interventions to facilitate the development of physically active lifestyles that persist at older ages.

An Investigation of Students’ Self-Regulated Learning Strategies: Students’ Qualitative and Quantitative Accounts of Their Learning Strategies

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between qualitative and quantitative measures of self-regulatory learning strategies to further investigate issues related to the validity of self-report measures. One hundred and sixty high school girls completed both the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ) and an open-ended questionnaire, both of which were designed to assess students’ use of learning strategies in the domains of English and math. Open-ended responses were coded and analyzed with results indicating that most students use shallow-processing strategies when preparing for final exams. Regression analysis was also used to investigate the predictive ability of the MSLQ and the open-ended questionnaire with findings indicating both to have predictive qualities. Implications for self-regulation and the measurement of learning strategies will be discussed.

The effects of autonomous and controlled regulation of performance-approach goals on well-being: a process model

The main purpose of the present research was to propose and test a motivational model linking achievement goal approach and self-determination theory. First, the effects of performance-approach goals and the autonomous and controlling reasons underlying their pursuit on well-being were investigated. Second, the mediating variables (i.e., effort, goal attainment, need satisfaction, and thwarting) at play in these relationships were examined based on the self-concordance model (Sheldon & Elliot, 1999). The model was tested in two studies in educational and work settings using cross sectional (Study 1) and prospective designs (Study 2). The present results revealed that considering autonomous and controlled regulations underlying performance-approach goals predicted well-being above and beyond the strength of performance-approach goals. Moreover, the mediational sequence based on the self-concordance model was supported in both studies. Theoretical implications and directions for future research are discussed.

Effect of context on performance approach orientation

We proposed and tested a theoretical model that argues that different work contexts influence the relationship between performance approach orientation and work performance. Across three studies and three different types of work performance, results consistently supported a theorized interaction between performance approach orientation and rewarding climate. Two self-rating studies showed generally similar interactions, with some important differences in the significance of the simple slopes. Larger differences emerged between the self-rating and a supervisor rating study. The present research supports a model in which type of work (part time vs. full time), rewarding climate, the criterion of performance (supervisor vs. self-rating), and type of work performance are important contextual components of a model relating performance approach orientation to work performance.

Antecedents and trajectories of achievement goals: a self-determination theory perspective

BACKGROUND

Research has shown that both achievement goal theory and self-determination theory (SDT) are quite useful in explaining student motivation and success in academic contexts. However, little is known about how the two theories relate to each other.

AIM

The current research used SDT as a framework to understand why students enter classes with particular achievement goal profiles, and also, how those profiles may change over time.

SAMPLE

One hundred and eighty-four undergraduate preservice teachers in a required domain course agreed to participate in the study.

METHOD

Data were collected at three time points during the semester, and both path modelling and multi-level longitudinal modelling techniques were used.

RESULTS

Path modelling techniques with 169 students, results indicated that students' autonomy and relatedness need satisfaction in life predict their initial self-determined class motivation, which in turn predicts initial mastery-approach and -avoidance goals. Multi-level longitudinal modelling with 108 students found that perceived teacher autonomy support buffered against the general decline in students' mastery-approach goals over the course of the semester.

CONCLUSIONS

Data provide a promising integration of SDT and achievement goal theory, posing a host of potentially fruitful future research questions regarding goal adoption and trajectories.