GOAL ORIENTATIONS, MOTIVATIONAL CLIMATE AND DISPOSITIONAL FLOW IN GREEK SECONDARY EDUCATION STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION LESSON: DIFFERENCES BASED ON GENDER

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze the possible relations between dispositional goal orientations, perceived motivational climate and the flow state in secondary education students, with special attention to possible gender differences. The sample consisted of 200 students with an average age of 14 to 16 years. The students completed the Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire (TEOSQ), the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI) and the Dispositional Flow Scale. The results show that no significant differences were found between the males and females in terms of the general dispositional flow. Task orientation was positively and significantly related to a perceived task involving motivational climate and to the disposition to experience flow. Ego orientation was positively and significantly associated with a perceived ego- involving motivational climate and with dispositional flow. The perceptions of task- involving and ego-involving motivational climates were positively and significantly linked to the general dispositional flow. The regression analysis indicated that both task and ego goal orientations and perceived task and ego-oriented climates predicted dispositional flow. The males displayed a stronger ego orientation, and were more likely to report that they participated in an ego-oriented climate than the females. The females were more likely to perceive a task-oriented climate.