Theses and Dissertations Collection

Motivational Climate (MC) is an important situational factor influencing participation in sport that is largely coach-created (Balaguer, Duda, & Crespo, 1999; Duda & Balaguer, 2007; Smith, Smoll, & Cumming, 2007). Two types of MC have been identified, task/mastery or ego/performance, with MC reflecting athletes’ perceptions of the sport environment in which they practice and compete (Ntoumanis & Biddle, 1999). Although limited research has been conducted on how coaches can promote a particular type of competitive climate, achievement goal theory (AGT) has hypothesized how either type of MC can be created over time through task- or ego-focused goals (Ames, 1992; Nicholls, 1989).

To date, research investigating how coach-created MC environment is perceived by athletes has been somewhat limited, particularly how this MC perception is affected other motivational correlates in sport (i.e., perfectionism, goal setting styles, and mindsets). The purpose of this dissertation was twofold: (a) to examine the Empowering-Disempowering Motivational Climate Questionnaire – Coach Version that was developed for children and adolescents in the United Kingdom in order to see how well the instrument fits an American collegiate and professional sport population, and (b) in the event that the instrument does not have acceptable fit indices, investigate whether the instrument can be revised so fit is acceptable and provide preliminary construct validity for the revised instrument.

The objective of Study 1 was to validate the EDMCQ-C scale using an American population of adult athletes. However, the EDMCQ-C did not provide acceptable fit indices for an adult population, prompting a revised EDMCQ to be developed for adult American athletes labeled the EDMCQ-Adult Collegiate Sample (EDMCQ-ACS) that had three subscales (i.e. task involvement, ego involvement and controlling coaching) and demonstrated strong CFA fit indices.

Study 2 used cluster analysis of the three MC subscales to create four MC profile groups, and then multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) to identify differences between profile groups on motivational correlate variables (i.e., mindsets, perfectionism, and GSSs subscales). Finally, canonical correlation analysis was used to examine the relationships between the three MC subscales in one variable set and separate analyses examining their relationship with: (a) mindsets, (b) perfectionism, (c) goal setting styles, and (d) all motivational correlate variables as one set.

Results showed support for the emerging hypotheses whereby empowering motivational climates correlated significantly with functional psychological variables. Further support was shown whereby disempowering motivational climates correlated with dysfunctional psychological variables. Results were discussed in light of limitations and future directions.