Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Semester of Degree Completion

1999

Thesis Director

Deborah W. Wolf

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between skill, setting and gender. There were three main purposes for conducting this study. The first was to determine whether a child's achievement motivation changes when participating in a team setting compared to an individual setting. The second purpose was to determine and compare any differences between boys' and girls' achievement motivation, in both team and individual settings, and thirdly, to determine and compare any differences between the achievement motivation of high-skilled and low-skilled children, in both team and individual settings. Subjects were administered the Sport Orientation Questionnaire, (Gill and Deeter, 1988), which assesses competitiveness, win-orientation and goal-orientation. Subjects in this study included a total of 117, (70 female, 47 male), 5th and 6th grade students at Jefferson Elementary School in Charleston, Illinois. Participants were categorized into high and low skill ability, (66 high skilled and 51 low skilled participants). Each student completed the Sport Orientation Questionnaire twice, once for team setting and once for individual setting. Students completed the SOQ, referring to feelings about team basketball competition, after four classes involving five-on-five basketball games. Students completed the SOQ a second time after four classes, which were structured on one-on-one competition. In regards to the primary hypothesis, it was determined that a child's achievement motivation does change when participating in a team setting compared to an individual setting. Results using a 3 way MANOVA indicated six significant differences: 1. Boys are more competitive than girls. 2. High-skilled children are more competitive than low-skilled children. 3. High-skilled children prefer to compete in an individual setting while low-skilled children prefer to compete in a team setting. 4. Both genders and skill levels have a stronger desire to win in a team setting compared to an individual setting. 5. Low-skilled children possess a higher motive to accomplish personal goals in a team setting compared to an individual setting. 6. High-skill participants possess a higher motive to achieve personal goals than low-skilled participants.

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