Research Regarding Optimization of an Athlete’s Motivation Level in Athletics Jumping Events

Abstract

This research provides a model for the operationalization of psychological training for an athlete in athletics jumping events, obtained by means of a case study realized within a 3-year experiment. Optimization of an athlete’s level of motivation through the operationalization of the psychological training aims at maximizing the level of performance achieved by the athlete. The research was carried out using specific techniques, based on quantifying motivational levels in order to identify global motivational force (GMF), determining the general motivation instrumentality (GMI) and the motivation instrumentality (MI) by motivational factors, which reflect the independent variables of motivation, these generating objectives in the optimization of psychological training. Quantifying the motivational level of an athlete revealed to us the sensitive differences between the values of the athlete (7.35) and those of his coach (6.85), in his perception of the athlete’s motivational structures. Based on the values identified regarding the general motivation instrumentality (GMI) for the athlete O.M. and taking into consideration the evaluation of the athlete by his coach and the ranking of each motivational factor, we were able to create objectives for psychological training. The results recorded throughout the research show an ascending curve in the GMF values of the athlete, from 7.35 to 8.57, values which signify a motivational profile with increased tendencies towards a higher level. Applying this strategy with regards to optimizing the motivational level of the athlete (O.M.) through operationalizing his psychological training leads to an improvement in both GMI and GMF values.

Keywords: Athletes; motivation, jumping events

1. Introduction

In competitive sport, motivation can have a positive or negative effect on the behaviour of the

athlete, depending greatly on the way the entire process of organizing and running the sports training is

carried out. Motivation is the factor which activates, coordinates and guides all of the actions and

reactions of the athlete. In order to reach competition objectives and adapt efficiently to the specific

requirements, the jumping event athlete must be motivated so that they can put in the necessary effort

to achieve high performance. Motivation is one of the determining factors of sports performance, thus

being considered a generator of sports performance. Sports performance can be influenced by the

intensity of the athlete’s motivation. Human performance, including that of sport, can be explained as a

multiplicative factor of motivation and possibilities/aptitudes (Epuran, Holdevici, & Tonița, 2008;

Duda et al., 1995; Mamali, 1981), P = f (MxA) (Bologa & Gherghișan 1994). Before moving on to the

implementation of mechanisms designed to motivate the potential of the competitive athlete, it is

essential to identify the factors which influence the sources of individual motivation and use them as

such in order to obtain positive, efficient reactions in the attitudinal system and behaviour of the

individual.

We believe that understanding the motivational structure, as well as the influences received from the

athlete’s system of values, is the key in determining the conditions through which the level of

motivation can be optimized in order for the athlete to achieve high performance in competition.

Under the assumption that motivation is “a state which energizes behaviour and offers it a direction”

(Atkinson & Hilgard, 2005, quoted by Mihăilescu & Haralambie, 2011) fulfilling a regulatory function

in the conduct of the athlete, and is determined by the consciously proposed purpose for their activity,

this research was initiated with the aim of optimizing the level of motivation of a jumping event athlete

for maximizing his sports performance.

With a view to optimizing the level of motivation in order to maximize sports performance, we

sought to achieve the following objectives: determine the level of motivation of the athlete and the

independent variables of global motivational force (GMF); determine the global motivational

instrumentality (GMI) and the instrumentation of motivation by motivational factors; create the

objectives of the athlete’s psychological training focused on increasing the global motivational force

(GMF) and personalize this training for the jumping event athlete, our case study; develop and

experiment an intervention strategy for the optimization of psychological training of the jumping event

athlete, for the purpose of maximizing performance in forthcoming competitions.

2. Methods

The experimental study was carried out using specific techniques, based on quantifying levels of

motivation which reflect the independent variables of motivation, therefore generating the objectives

necessary for the optimization of psychological training. In order to quantify motivation levels, we

used 14 motivational items reflecting both intrinsic and extrinsic forms of motivation (validated by

Bologa & Gherghișan, 1994; Haralambie & Mihăilescu, 2010; Haralambie, 2010), as can be seen in Table 1.

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Social prestige of the athlete, the sport practiced, the club and the coach

Management style used: by the coach, club and administration

Sport-school relationship: the possibility to be both an athlete and a student

Material conditions: facilities, gear, equipment, schedule

Determining the values of the independent variables of motivation, both GMF and GMI, was

achieved by means of the survey method using a questionnaire. The items of the questionnaire were

focused on evaluating the valence (V), expectancy (E) and instrumentation (I) of motivation.

VxE = GMF; Vx I = GMI

The research is based on a case study, a unique experiment, owing to the fact that athletics as a sport

requires individual training. The questionnaires were completed by the athlete and his coach. This

crossover method was used so as to observe the perception of the coach regarding the athlete, in terms

of leverage and motivational resources in training, in order to increase the efficiency of the athlete’s

preparation for competition.

3. Results

Quantifying the athlete’s level of motivation revealed to us the subtle differences between the values

of the athlete and those of the coach, with regards to motivational structures. The GMF value of the

athlete (7.35) constituted a medium level of motivation, a fact also observed in the perception of the

coach, who recorded a lower value (6.85) than that of the athlete, falling, however, into the same level

on the motivational scale (Graph 1).

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The values of V, E, I, GMI and the rank hierarchy of MI for the athlete O.M. were compared with

the standards determined by Haralambie and Mihăilescu (2010) for the athletes (seniors) in the

formative stage of training (Tables 2, 3).

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In order to optimize the level of motivation of the athlete by operationalizing his psychological

training, we identified the global motivational instrumentality and determined the values of motivation

instrumentation by motivational factors. The results of the research show a lower level in the case of

athlete O.M. when compared to the IM of the seniors (Table 3). The values recorded in the case of

seniors for the valence and instrumentality of motivational variables (Table 2) compared to the results

of athlete O.M. allowed us the opportunity to optimize the psychological training of the athlete. Based

on the values recorded for the athlete O.M. and taking into consideration the evaluation of the athlete

by his coach and the ranking of each motivational factor (Table 1), we were able to create

psychological training objectives aimed at increasing motivation indicators (Table 3).

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Based on the data obtained in the process of quantifying the level of motivation of the athlete O.M.

and in correlation with the objectives aimed, an action plan was drawn up to optimize the athlete’s

motivation level. The action plan was materialized through operational strategies designed to achieve

the optimal level of motivation for the forthcoming competition. Following the implementation of this

strategy, we noticed an improvement in the GMI values both in the evaluation of the athlete and that of the coach. Graph 2 shows the evolution of GMI values for the subject O.M. during the research. This progress is due to our efforts to improve the behaviour of the athlete regarding his attitude towards assuming responsibility and understanding that, by engaging in conscious and active activity, his level of performance can improve.

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In the graph below, we can see that the process undertaken to improve the level of motivation of the athlete was successful. Over the course of the research, we observed a continual increase in the GMF values of the athlete, values which signify a motivational profile with great potential.

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4. Conclusions

The results recorded throughout the research show an ascending curve in the GMF values of the

athlete, from 7.35 to 8.57, values which signify a motivational profile with great potential.

Applying this strategy with regards to optimizing the motivational level of the athlete O.M. by

operationalizing his psychological training will lead to an improvement in both GMI and motivation

instrumentality by motivational factors, this having a lower value than that of the seniors (Table 3). The

lower values of some of the external motivational factors recorded in the results of the athlete created

the opportunity to optimize the psychological training of the athlete by improving them, as well as by

developing internal motivational factors.

This approach has led to the optimization of the motivational level of the athlete, who recorded a

value of 8.57 at the end of the experiment. This ascending trend of motivation level was also identified

within the results obtained following an evaluation of the coach’s perception of the athlete’s level of

motivation.

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