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Using Achievement Goal Theory to assess an elementary physical education running program
Ping Xiang1, April Bruene, Ron E McBride
1Dept of Health & Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843-4243, USA. ping@hlkn.tamu.edu
The Journal of School Health
|October 8, 2004
Summary
Mastery goals in physical education running programs positively impact student persistence and performance. A mastery-focused climate further enhances one-mile run results, supporting student motivation and learning.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Educational Psychology
Background:
- Achievement Goal Theory provides a framework for understanding student motivation in educational settings.
- Elementary physical education programs can foster lifelong healthy habits and positive behaviors.
- The Roadrunners program aims to improve cardiovascular health, promote active lifestyles, and encourage mastery behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationships between achievement goals, perceived motivational climate, and student achievement behavior within the Roadrunners physical education running program.
- To assess how mastery goals and a mastery-focused climate influence student persistence, effort, and performance in a running program.
Main Methods:
- The study utilized Achievement Goal Theory as a theoretical framework.
- 116 fourth-grade students participating in the Roadrunners program since kindergarten were surveyed.
- Data collection included a questionnaire on achievement goals and perceived motivational climate, and objective measures of persistence (laps run) and performance (timed one-mile run).
Main Results:
- A mastery goal orientation was positively associated with student persistence and one-mile run performance.
- An interaction between a mastery goal and the perception of a mastery-focused climate significantly predicted improved one-mile run performance.
- These findings indicate the beneficial impact of mastery goals and a supportive climate on student outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Mastery goals and a mastery-focused motivational climate are beneficial for enhancing student motivation, persistence, and performance in elementary physical education running programs.
- The Roadrunners program effectively promotes mastery behaviors and contributes to positive student achievement.
- Empirical evidence supports the integration of mastery-oriented approaches in physical education to foster student learning and development.