The study examined the effects of positive verbal reinforcement on intrinsic motivation by determining differential effects over four multidimensions of Ryan's Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI). Subjects (N=60) were 30 male and 30 female college students. The subjects were blocked by gender and randomly assigned to a positive verbal reinforcement group or a control group. The subjects received 10 trials on the stabilometer. The results of the study indicated that there were significant group differences for composite intrinsic motivation and for perceived competence; however, there were no significant gender differences found. Furthermore, no group differences were reported for the underlying factors of interest/enjoyment, effort, or pressure/tension.

Det är av stort intresse för lärare och tränare att öka elevers inre motivation. Det finns flera studier av hur feedback påverkar den inre motivationen inom olika områden men motsvarande studie för ryttare saknas. Ridundervisning innefattar tre individer – tränare, ryttare och häst. Frågan är därför om ryttares inre motivation påverkas av tränarens feedback i samma utsträckning som i andra idrotter. I studien användes en inomgruppsdesign med 35 ryttare och tre betingelser; positiv feedback, negativ feedback samt ingen feedback. Instrumentet Intrinsic motivation inventory (IMI) användes för att mäta inre motivation som en funktion av fyra faktorer: intresse/nöje, upplevd kompetens, press/anspänning samt ansträngning. Resultaten visade att samtliga faktorer förutom ansträngning påverkades av vilken typ av feedback ryttaren fick. Intresse/nöje och upplevd kompetens var högst vid positiv feedback och lägst vid negativ feedback medan press/anspänning, som är negativt relaterat till inre motivation, var lägst vid positiv och högst vid negativ feedback. Av de 35 deltagarna var 19 kända av experimentledaren sedan tidigare. När tidigare känd/tidigare okänd användes som mellangruppsvariabel fanns en huvudeffekt för faktorn press/anspänning. De tidigare okända deltagarna upplevde högre anspänning än de tidigare kända deltagarna under alla betingelser. För faktorn ansträngning fanns en interaktionseffekt. De tidigare okända ansträngde sig mest vid positiv feedback och minst vid negativ feedback medan de tidigare kända deltagarna visade motsatta reaktioner. Störst effekt hade feedbacken på upplevd kompetens vilket kan leda till förbättrade prestationer. Slutsatsen av studien är att positiv feedback gynnar den inre motivationen hos ryttare och kan därmed förbättra deras utveckling och prestationer. / It is of utmost interest for teachers to increase student’s intrinsic motivation. Several previous studies have examined the impact of feedback on intrinsic motivation, but corresponding studies on riders are missing. Three individuals are involved at riding lessons – coach, rider and horse. The question therefore arises if the rider´s intrinsic motivation will be as affected by coaches’ feedback as in other sports. In this study, a within group design was used with 35 participating riders and three conditions: positive, negative or no feedback. The Intrinsic motivation inventory (IMI) was used to measure intrinsic motivation as a function of four factors: interest/joy, perceived competence, pressure/tension and effort. All factors except effort were affected by the type of feedback. Interest/joy and perceived competence were highest at positive and lowest at negative feedback, while pressure/tension that is negatively related with intrinsic motivation was lowest at positive and highest at negative feedback. Of the 35 participants, 19 were previously known by the experimenter. Previously known/unknown were used as a between factor variable. That revealed a main effect on pressure/tension. The previously unknown participants experienced more pressure/tension at all conditions. An interaction was revealed for perceived effort: the previously unknown stated most perceived effort at positive and least at negative feedback while the reactions were the opposite for the previously known. Feedback had greatest effect on perceived competence which may lead to better performance. The conclusion is that positive feedback increases the intrinsic motivation in riders and hence, is beneficial on their development and performance.