Sport is an avenue for children and adolescents to improve physical skills as well as
enhance their psycho-social development. Despite the benefits of sport, numerous children
and adolescents choose not to be physically active. Consequently, several investigators
have sought to determine why some children choose to participate in sport, while others do
not. The perceived importance or value, attached to an activity is one factor that has been
considered central to predicting behavioral choices in various settings. Eccles et al. (1983)
have proposed a multidimensional, quantitative measure of subjective task value (intrinsic,
attainment, and utility). However, qualitative differences in the sources of subjective task
value for sport have yet to be investigated. Thus, the primary purpose of this study was to
examine self-identified and literature-based sources of intrinsic, attainment, and utility value
among male and female adolescents.
A sample of 30 male and female eighth grade students, classified into subjective
task value groups (high-, medium-, or low value), were selected to participate in the
interview portion of this study.
In general, the results confirmed the sources of subjective task value identified in
the literature by Eccles et al. The results also supported Eccles et al.'s multidimensional
approach to value by revealing sources unique to each component (intrinsic, attainment,
utility) of value. Sources of value peculiar to the physical domain emerged, as well as
gender differences within each level of value. Finally, the process of ranking both self-
identified and literature-based sources of value illuminated the most salient sources for each
subgroup.
In sum, this study both confirmed and expanded upon Eccles's subjective task
value work. The results are discussed in terms of conceptual and practical implications as
well as recommendations for future research. / Graduation date: 1997
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/34453 |
| Date | 13 March 1997 |
| Creators | Stuart, Moira E. |
| Contributors | Ebbeck, Vicki |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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