Masters Theses

Eric Deemer

Date of Award

12-1995

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Human Performance and Sport Studies

Major Professor

Patricia A. Beitel

Committee Members

Joy DeSensi, Schuyler Huck

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the relationship between goal orientation and flow for elite college athletes in addition to the interaction of the following variables: (a) gender and goal orientation, (b) gender and flow, (c) task variability and flow, and (d) task dependence and flow. The primary hypothesis to be investigated was that task-oriented athletes experience flow to a greater degree than ego-oriented athletes. It was also hypothesized that a gender difference would exist for goal orientation in that female athletes would be significantly higher than male athletes in task orientation, however no such difference would exist for ego orientation. No task variability or task dependence differences were hypothesized for flow.

Ninety-one male and female elite college athletes from a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I institution participated in the study. The athletes participated in the following sports: (a) basketball, (b) volleyball, (c) golf, (d) tennis, (e) swimming, and (f) track & field. A quantitative method of data collection was used as participants were administered the Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire (Duda & Nicholls, 1989) and Progen's (1978) Sport Flow Q-Sort to evaluate goal orientation and flow, respectively.

Statistical procedures used to analyze the data were: (a) one way multivariate analyses of variance, (b) one-way univariate analyses of variance, (c) pairwise correlations, and (d) regression analyses. The results provided partial support for the theoretical questions set forth. First, a significant gender difference was found for goal orientation. Females were significantly less ego-oriented than males while at the same time significantly higher In task goal orientation than males. There were no significant gender differences for flow, the flow experiential states, or the flow elements. Second, correlational and regression analyses demonstrated a significant relationship between task goal orientation and flow, whereas no significant relationships were discovered for ego goal orientation and flow. No significant relationships were discovered between goal orientation and the flow experiential states Pairwise correlations Indicated positive and significant relationships between task goal orientation and: (a) control of action and the environment, (b) autotelic nature, and (c) centering of attention.

Finally, results of one-way MANOVA's Indicated there were no significant task variability or task dependence differences for flow. These results were discussed In terms of related research In the literature and conclusions and suggestions for future research were advanced.

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