Winning Isn't Everything: Goal Orientation and Gender Differences in University Leisure-Skills Classes

Achievement motivation is predicated on the notion that a person wants to demonstrate competence and feel successful and is motivated to achieve these outcomes. A person's goal orientation describes the individual's motivation—an ego orientation presupposes that achievement is a result of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Recreational sports journal 2009-04, Vol.33 (1), p.54-64
Main Authors: Anderson, Denise M., Dixon, Anthony W.
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Achievement motivation is predicated on the notion that a person wants to demonstrate competence and feel successful and is motivated to achieve these outcomes. A person's goal orientation describes the individual's motivation—an ego orientation presupposes that achievement is a result of ability, whereas a task orientation ties achievement to effort. Understanding a person's achievement motivation can help us better understand how to facilitate positive leisure experiences and long-term participation in recreation activities. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the goal orientation of male and female university students enrolled in leisure-skills courses. Results suggest that there are gender differences in goal orientation that may have an impact on enjoyment of and intention to continue participation in a recreation activity, regardless of the activity.
ISSN:1558-8661
1558-867X
DOI:10.1123/rsj.33.1.54