Part 3: Research: Extrinsic Rewards & I.M. in Sport

• Research Example: Ryan (1980) - Athletic Scholarships at US Universities (also see Amorose & Horn, 2000; Matosic et al., 2014)

  • Compared male and female athletes from a variety of sports
  • Had to have equal scholarships for men & women 
  • Incredible extrinsic reward 
  • Prev mostly to men as make most money 
  • What found is surprising 
  • Does it affect (help or hurt) intrinsic motivation?
  • Few scholarships for less popular sports 
  • How many players held a scholarship
• Research Example: Ryan (1980) - Athletic Scholarships at US Universities FOUND:

  • Football/Gridiron: scholarship athletes had lower I.M. than non-scholarship athletes
  • Scholarship can be used as a threat, if don’t play well remove scholarship 
  • Wrestlers and Female Athletes (6 diff. sports):
  • Scholarship athletes had higher I.M. than non-scholarship athletes
  • Only a few on scholarships (compared to more in Football)
• Research Example: Ryan (1980) - Athletic Scholarships at US Universities FOUND:

  • WHY ??? (Wrestlers & Female Athletes have higher intrinsic motivation)
  • Receiving the scholarship increased information of their competence 
  • Says/Perceived it as that you have good ability, as one of the few to receive a scholarship 
• Research Example: Ryan (1980) - Athletic Scholarships at US Universities FOUND:

  • Depends how scholarship is perceived by person receiving them 
  • If use as a threat or tool, doesn’t help w/ intrinsic motivation 
  • Because of ability, perceived as proving your competence increase intrinsic motivation
• Research Example: Wilson & Hodge (1997): Professionalism in Rugby - Effect on I.M

  • Compared professional rugby players (n = 23) & amateur club players (n = 96) on levels of I.M.
  • Only on male players
  • FOUND:
  • Pro players had higher I.M. than Club players:
  • Club players still high
  • 125 pro players 
  • Info on competence so increase intrinsic motivation 
  • One of the chosen few
• Research Example: Wilson & Hodge (1997): Professionalism in Rugby - Effect on I.M

  • Compared professional rugby players (n = 23) & amateur club players (n = 96) on levels of I.M.
  • Only on male players
  • FOUND:
  • Pro players had higher I.M. than Club players:
  • WHY ???
  • Task Goal Orientation was a moderate predictor of I.M.     (for both pro & club players)
  • Individuals primarily task orientated (personal competence), where higher in intrinsic motivation
• Research Examples

  • Why reward it self isn’t good or bad, depends on how person perceives it