The Perceived Motivational Climate in Sport Questionnaire: Construct and Predictive Validity

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to further examine the construct and predictive validity of the Perceived Motivational Climate in Sport Questionnaire or PMCSQ. Young athletes {N = 169. M age = 14.2 ± 1.94 years) on team.s competing in an amateur international competition completed questionnaires measuring perceived motivational climate, the degree of worry experienced while participating, and team satisfaction. Results of a confirmatory factor analysis indicated an acceptable fit ofthe data with the hypothetical mea.surement model. In terms of the predictive utility of the PMCSQ, perceptions of a mastery climate were positively related to satisfaction with being a member on the team and negatively associated with performance worry. In contrast, perceptions of a performance climate were po.sitively associated with concems about failing and the adequacy of one's performance and negatively correlated with team satisfaction. Future directions in terms of instrument development and research on motivational climate in the sport setting are presented. Key words: goal perspectives, confirmatory factor analysisA universal goal of youth sport is to foster feelings of achievement and enjoyment among young participants. Central to the accomplishment of this aim is the necessity to understand the factors influencing young athletes' perceptions of success and sport experiences per se. An awareness of the information youth sport athletes use to interpret sport success has tremendous implications for coaches interested in motivating young athletes and maximizing their athletic involvement.A foundation of research has been conducted and offers insight into the motivational pattems of participants in sporting environments. Based on goal perspective theory (Nicholls, 1984(Nicholls, , 1989, this literature indicates that there are two major goal states operating in achievement situations, namely task and ego involvement. These two goal perspectives retlect different ways that individuals

Goal orientations and motivational climate by sex and age in physical education

“…En cuanto al clima motivacional percibido, diferentes trabajos han demostrado que las mujeres perciben mucho más un clima motivacio-c i e n c i a nal implicante al aprendizaje que los varones (Martí-nez, Alonso, Cervelló, & Moreno, 2009;Ntoumanis & Biddle, 1999;Walling, Duda, & Chi, 1993). Siguiendo con la variable edad, los estudios han demostrado que conforme se aumenta en esta variable, disminuye la orientación motivacional a la tarea y la percepción de un clima motivacional con implicación al aprendizaje, tendiendo más a una orientación al ego y a un clima rendimiento (Digelidis & Papaioannou, 1999;Papaioannou, 1997;Xiang & Lee, 2002).…”

Development of a cohesion inventory for children's sport teams.

“…Predictive validity is demonstrated by a questionnaire's ability to predict an outcome that is theoretically plausible (e.g., Trochim, 2006;Walling, Duda, & Chi, 1993). When validated the GEQ and validated their French-language cohesion inventory (Questionnaire sur l'Ambiance du Groupe), they used both sport type and team tenure to test predictive validity.…”

Predicting occurrence of and responses to psychological difficulties: The interplay between achievement goals, perceived ability, and motivational climates among Korean athletes

“…The experience of psychological difficulties during important competition was positively predicted by the perception of an ego-involving climate and negatively with perceived ability. As found in previous research, when outperforming others is encouraged and mistakes are punished in a sport environment, we would expect athletes to doubt their competence and experience more performance-related problems (Ommundsen & Pedersen, 1999;Pensgaard & Roberts, 1997;Walling et al, 1993). Further, stress and psychological difficulties are likely to result when perceptions of ability are low (Hall & Kerr, 1997;Ntoumanis & Biddle, 1998).…”

“…Theoretically, Nicholls (1984) contended that goal involvement, stemming either from one's dispositional tendency or motivational climate, would influences one's cognitions, emotional responses, and behavioral patterns. For example, when ego involvement predominates, athletes are more likely to doubt their competence and attribute their success to factors outside of their control (Duda & Whitehead, 1998;Walling, Duda, & Chi, 1993). This cognitive appraisal would, in turn, influence their use of coping strategies.…”