Abstract des Autors

Recent development in social cognitive theory of achievement motivation highlights the relevance of task and ego goal perspectives in sport. A task goal perspective refers to a mastery approach where self-improvement or performing beyond personal expectations induce perceptions of competence, as conception of ability is self-referenced. An ego perspective rather entails a preoccupation with favorable social comparison, as conception of ability is other-referenced. The purpose of this study was to underscore the salience of task and ego achievement goals in children's sport, replicating research with older athletes. The Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire (TEOSQ: Duda, 1989) as well as ratings of demonstrated ability, effort and performance satisfaction were distributed to Little League baseball players (N = 88), ten to twelve years of age. Factor analysis of the instrument revealed a stable factor structure which was internally reliable. Results also indicated that whereas a task perspective was related to effort exerted during competition, an ego perspective was found to be associated to demonstrated ability. Such findings extend the applicability of the TEOSQ and provide a measure for investigating further, achievement goal perspectives from a developmental point of view. Results are discussed in terms of the need to promote task rather than ego involvement in children's sport in order to foster participation and persistence in youth sport settings.
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