Goal Distance in Time and its Effects on the Relations between Achievement Motives,Future-Time Orientation,and Motor Performance among Girls and Boys

Abstract

Among the 348 pupils 11 to 13 years old, 148 girls and 158 boys participated in this study. Among success-oriented individuals, girls increased all types of performance responses (i.e., tasks attempted, attempts with score, quality score, and force), and boys increased their quality score and force as the goal distance in time decreased. Among the failure-oriented girls, no performance measures were affected by decreased goal distance in time, except for the force response which decreased. Failure-oriented boys seem to be more actively oriented than girls on all responses, except for force, when the goal distance in time decreased from 1 month to the goal situation. Although not consistent with the predicted lack of relationship, future time orientation modified the performance of failure-oriented individuals in the goal situation. Interactions of motives (success- and failure-oriented individuals) and goal distance in time were significant on all types of performance responses for girls, but not for boys. Results are discussed in relation to achievement motivation theory and theory of stress and the coping process.

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