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Investigate The Factors Influencing The Performance Of Secondary School Students In Sports
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Motivation
Motivation can simply be defined as the direction and intensity of one’s effort. The direction of effort refers to whether an individual seeks out approaches or is attracted to certain situations (Sam, 2004). This could intrinsic or extrinsic. One of the ways to promote or enhance motivation is Goal setting.
One of the most robust findings in the scientific literature is the effect of goals setting on task performance. There have been many reviews of literature on the effectiveness of goal setting in industry and sport. Both the literatures indicate that setting goals can significantly enhance. In fact, studies have revealed that goal setting was the most frequently used psychological intervention in both individual and group consultations. But the important point is that goal setting will not automatically improve performance. Rather, one has to set the proper types of goals to make them most effective.
There is nothing wrong with setting an outcome goal. The problem is that too many performers focus too much on this outcome and thus put pressure on themselves. In addition, outcome goals are not under a person’s control and thus one might, for example, swim a personal best, but still come in fourth place because the other swimmers were better as also swam extremely well. Similarly, there are process goals, which focus mostly on the process of reaching one’s performance goals. For example, process goals might be getting one’s racquet back early in tennis right after the opponent strikes the ball, or extending one’s arms when swimming a bat in basketball. It is revealed that performance and process goals should be emphasized. In essence, reaching one’s process and performance goals increase the likelihood of achieving one’s outcome goals.
There are four primary reasons why goals work:
1. Goals direct attention to important elements of the skill being performed.
2. Goals mobilize performer efforts.
3. Goals prolong performer’s persistence.
4. Goals foster the development of new learning strategies.
Reinforcement/Feedback
Probably the method most often employed by coaches or people around the students to motivate them is the use of some sort of reinforcement and feedback. The theory behind the use of feedback is based on operant conditioning principles that argue that our behaviours can be influenced by, and eventually controlled by, manipulating consequences. Specifically, if the consequences for a behaviour are positive, then this increases the likelihood of performing the behaviour. Conversely, if the consequences of a behaviour are negative, then the likelihood of performing the behaviour is reduced. For example, if a baseball player receives positive feedback from the coach for putting forth full effort, then the athlete is more likely to try hard in the future. However, if the player is yelled at for “slacking off†on a drill, then the athlete is less likely to “slack off†again.
Potential reinforcers include social behaviours such as verbal praise, non-verbal signs (e.g., applause, smiles), physical contact (e.g., pat on the back), and the opportunity to engage in certain behaviours (e.g., extra batting practice) or play with a particular piece of equipment. Material rewards such as money, medals, varsity jackets, and trophies can also serve as rein forcers.
Overall, reinforcers should be varied so a teacher does not sound too repetitive. It is important for coaches to get to know athletes’ likes and dislikes to help determine the most effective reinforcers for them. Motivation can come not only from external sources, but also from inside the person. Intrinsic motivation focuses on striving inwardly to be competent and self-determining in the quest to master the task at hand. In sport, intrinsically motivated people tend to enjoy competition, like the action and excitement, focus on having fun, and want to learn skills to the best of their ability (Sam, 2004). The focus is not on financial gain, getting one’s name in the newspaper, or some other form of extrinsic achievement or recognition. Rather, it is participating for the pride one gets in performing the activity for itself and the pure love of the activity.
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]ABSTRACT IS COMING SOON ... Continue reading---
CHAPTER ONE - [ Total Page(s): 2 ]Purpose of the Study The general purpose of this study is to investigate the factors influencing the performance of secondary school students in sports. Specifically, the work intends:i. to find out whether availability of sporting facilities affect students’ performance in sportii. to investigate whether the socio-economic status of the students influence their performance in sportsiii. to reveal whether parental attitude of the students affects the students†... Continue reading---
CHAPTER THREE - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]CHAPTER THREERESEARCH METHODOLOGYThis chapter is concerned with the method of collecting related and relevant information needed for this work. It presents the research methodology adopted in this study. It has been presented under these sections; Population, Sample and Sampling Techniques, Research Instrument, Instrument Validation, Procedure for Data Collection, and Data Analysis Techniques. Research DesignThis study is a descriptive research of the survey type. A descriptive research describ ... Continue reading---
CHAPTER FOUR - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]CHAPTER FOURSUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONSThis chapter presents a summary of study after which it gives a brief conclusion based on the findings of the result derived from the data analysed. Therefore, the chapter presents some recommendations with the hope that if they are implemented, there will be further success in the use of school sports.SummaryThere has been general perceived decline in students’ performance in sporting activities in and outside their schools. The poor per ... Continue reading---
CHAPTER FIVE - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]CHAPTER FIVEConclusionSport in Nigeria has grown from its humble beginning as an entertainment and recreational pastime to a prominent phenomenon whose influences are felt in all facets of lives of citizens. It is a very useful tool for all-round development especially of the students. It is used in Nigeria to foster national unity and socio-cultural integration. It is one of the most important phenomena which cut across all human endeavours and ethnic divides. Its invaluable role in studentsâ ... Continue reading---
