Approach-avoidance motivation in physical education

Physical education (PE) represents one of the most important physical settings in which to study motivational processes due to its uniqueness in including all young people with a wide range of physical abilities. Moreover, positive experiences in school PE are thought likely to enhance lifelong physical activity, giving PE an important role in influencing young people's involvement in physical activity both within and beyond the school curriculum. However, there is increasing concern over the physical activity levels of young people today, and understanding the changes in pupil's motivational processes during the time when they appear most at risk of declining levels of physical activity, may help researchers and physical educators intervene to offset the decline. Using Elliot's Hierarchical Model of Approach and Avoidance Achievement Motivation (Elliot, 1999; Elliot & Church, 1997) as a theoretical basis, the purpose of this thesis was to examine pupil's approach-avoidance goal adoption in PE. Moreover, it was to determine the temporal pattern of approach-avoidance goals and the predictive utility of key antecedents, namely perceptions of competence and implicit theories of ability to these temporal patterns.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo