The Effect of Positive and Negative Motivation Upon Selected Measures of Circulorespiratory Adjustment and All-out Running Performance

The use of motivational techniques to increase physical performance has long been advocated by individuals in the physical education and coaching professions. Jokl concerned himself with a description of clinical findings in three Olympic athletes who attained success in international competition even though they were afflicted with major physical abnormalities. He felt that motivation was an intangible factor in human performance and that all outstanding performances raise the question of motivation. Strong, when determining the effect of six motivating conditions on the performance of sixth grade children on seven physical fitness tests, found that motivation improved boy’s performance more than girl’s performance. Cummiskey questioned whether the performance of children on complex perpetual-motor tasks could be improved by imposed stimulation when motivation toward the task was already high and the results of the task were available to the performer. Cummiskey concluded that physical educators and educators in general should recognize the possible adverse effects of imposing motivation on performance of certain types of perceptual-motor tasks. Often a question arises as to the effects of various motivational techniques on physical performance. The apparent lack of material relating to motivation and circular respiratory adjustment seems to indicate a need for further study. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of positive and negative motivation upon selected measures of circular respiratory adjustment and all-out running performance on a treadmill. The findings of this study were based on the following assumptions: the physical condition of the subjects participating under the various motivational techniques was approximately equal, the motivational techniques that were employed were representative of the type of motivation desired, the tests used to determine circulorespiratory adjustment were valid indicators of the adjustment of the circulorespiratory system following a run on a treadmill under motivational techniques