Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Availability

Open Access Thesis

Keywords

Sports--Psychological aspects; Women athletes--Psychology;

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of skill level on the attributions made by recreational players and scholarship athletes. The subjects consisted of volunteers from the general population of St. Ambrose University (n = 11) and the University of Northern Iowa intercollegiate volleyball team (n = 12). The subjects were asked to perform two individual skill tests. The scores from the skill tests were recorded but not used in the analysis. Performance feedback was manipulated to create a ·perception of success in one skill test and failure in the second skill test. After completing each of the skill tests, the subjects were asked to fill out the Wingate Sport Achievement Responsibility Scale {WSARS). The WSARS was specifically designed to measure internality and externality of attributions made by athletes. The WSARS consists of two independent subscales (positive events and negative events). A MANOVA revealed that there was a significant difference (p = .044) between the attributions of recreational players and scholarship athletes. The analysis also showed a significant interaction (p = .0061 ). Further testing revealed that the significant interaction occurred within the failure positive condition. Overall both groups provided internal (personal control) attributions. Scholarship athletes scored higher in internality under all four conditions, especially the failure positive. The results of this study may indicate that there is a possibility of a coaching I influence. The results also suggest that scholarship athletes might have more confidence in their abilities and may not be as easily influenced, by the outcome of the condition (success or failure), as the recreational players.

Year of Submission

1994

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

School of Health, Physical Education, and Leisure Services

First Advisor

Iradge Ahrabi-Fard

Second Advisor

Sharon Huddleston

Third Advisor

Nancy Hamilton

Comments

If you are the rightful copyright holder of this thesis and wish to have it removed from the Open Access Collection, please submit a request to scholarworks@uni.edu and include clear identification of the work, preferably with URL.

Date Original

1994

Object Description

1 PDF file (73 leaves)

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

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