The interaction of motivational climate, dispositional goal orientations and perceived ability in predicting indices of motivation

Abstract

The interaction between perceptions of the motivational climate, goal orientations, and perceived ability were examined. Junior female volleyball players (N=385) from 45 teams participating in a competition completed a survey assessing perceived motivational climate dispositional goal orientations, perceived ability, intrinsic motivation and beliefs about the causes of success. Motivational climate was the strongest predictor of enjoyment/interest and pressure/tension while goal orientation was the strongest predictor of effort/importance. Both ego orientation and perceptions of an ego-involving motivational climate were related to ability centered beliefs about success. Effort focused beliefs were predicted by the interaction of task orientation and perceptions of a task involving motivational climate. The results are discussed iii light of the tenets of goal perspective theory and the matching hypothesis.