The effects of athletic scholarships on motivation in sport
Document Type
Journal Article
Publisher
University of South Alabama * Department of Psychology
Faculty
Faculty of Computing, Health and Science
School
School of Exercise, Biomedical and Health Science
RAS ID
8871
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of athletic scholarships on the motives of collegiate athletes for sport. "Present" and "perceived future" motivation was assessed in a sample of 70 non-scholarship and 46 scholarship basketball players. Male scholarship athletes reported higher levels of introjected regulation than female non-scholarship athletes, and higher levels of external regulation compared to female scholarship athletes and all non-scholarship athletes. For non-scholarship athletes, the future possibility of obtaining full athletic scholarships resulted in increased external regulation, decreased intrinsic motivation to experience stimulation, and decreased intrinsic motivation to accomplish things. For scholarship athletes, the possibility of removing full athletic scholarships resulted in decreased intrinsic motivation to experience stimulation and decreased intrinsic motivation to accomplish things. Collectively, the results of the present investigation offer support for Deci and Ryan's (1985) cognitive evaluation theory and point to the potential negative effects of scholarships on athlete's motivation for sport.
Comments
Medic, N., Mack, D. E., Wilson, P. M., & Starkes, J. L. (2007). The effects of athletic scholarships on motivation in sport. Journal of Sport Behavior, 30(3).