PE 305/560: SPORT PSYCHOLOGY
MOTIVATION CASE STUDY 1
Due Date: December 1, 2010
GENERAL DIRECTIONS: This is a 50-point project, so be thorough and utilize theory
and research from class in developing your answers. Make your answers thorough and
comprehensive enough to demonstrate a thorough understanding of motivation.
Larry Larson has been cross-country skiing for nearly 10 years now. A few years ago he won
a number of races and people began talking about his potential as an Olympian. Then something
happened. Larry’s skiing turned mediocre the last two seasons. He gets much more uptight
before competition than before. He skis well in practice and in races where he believes he will
easily win. In competition he stops racing hard as soon as something doesn’t go right or he gets
passed.
When Coach Mitchell asks him about his performance in a race, Larry usually is full of
excuses. “Wrong skis.” “Wrong wax.” “Bad leg.” “Not my course.” And on and on. This past
season has been especially disastrous for Larry. His racing times are well below what he skis in
practice, and what he skied two years ago. Thus, Coach Mitchell decided to enter Larry in a few
races in which the competition was not so tough so Larry could get the “feel” of winning again.
Larry won two such races, but afterward rejected the success by commenting, “These races don’t
mean anything; the competition was lousy.” Please type your responses.
Questions:
1. What is the motivation behind Larry’s behavior? Is he more intrinsically or extrinsically
motivated and why? What is his predominant belief about talent/intelligence (i.e., learning or
capacity) and why? What motivational style best describes Larry (i.e., SO, FO or PO) and
why?
2. If you were Coach Mitchell, what would you do to solve the problem?
MOTIVATION CASE STUDY 2
Jenny Reilly is a player of average talent on Coach Fran Thompson’s volleyball team. Jenny
could be a starter if she would make the effort in practice, but she doesn’t. She acts maturely on
a one-on-one basis with Coach Thompson, but in front of the team she often is an immature
show-off. Jenny frequently agitates the lower ability players and tries to “butter-up” Susan and
Lori, the two star players.
Coach Thompson has disciplined her several times for the pranks she’s pulled in the locker
room, but this hasn’t detoured Jenny one bit. Coach Thompson is at a loss to know how to direct
Jenny’s motivation toward volleyball and away from pulling pranks and agitating other players.
Please type your responses.
Questions:
1. What is the motivation behind Jenny’s behavior? Is she more intrinsically or extrinsically
motivated and why? What is her predominant belief about talent/intelligence (i.e., learning
or capacity) and why? What motivational style (i.e., SO, FO or PO) best describes Jenny and
why?
2. If you were Coach Thompson, what would you do to solve the problem?
PE 305/560: SPORT PSYCHOLOGY
BOBBY KNIGHT MOTIVATION CASE STUDY
DIRECTIONS: Read the Scholastic Coach interview with Bobby Knight which is attached and
answer the following questions. If you want further information about Bobby Knight, you can
consult several additional resources, including: (a) the Sports Illustrated excerpt from John
Feinstein’s book A Season on the Brink about the Hoosiers’ 1985-86 season, or (b) the 60
Minutes interview with Knight conducted in 1981. The SI article is on reserve in the cage and
the video can be checked out in the cage and viewed in the computer lab. (Type your responses)
1.
Is Bobby Knight more interested in winning, developing the skills of his athletes, or
developing positive social relationships?
2.
How would you characterize Bobby Knight’s coaching style?
3.
How does Bobby Knight motivate his athletes? Why?
4.
On the surface, Bobby Knight seems to take a different motivational approach than the one
advocated in this course. Yet he is extremely successful and high athletes seem to be highly
motivated. How do you account for this discrepancy? Select one of the three (3) possible
explanations below or come up with your own rationale. Whatever you select, please
provide a strong justification for your answer.
(a) The motivational approach advocated in this course works only sometimes or in only
certain situations?
(b) Bobby Knight is right about motivation and we’re wrong?
(c) Careful scrutiny reveals that Bobby Knight’s approach to motivation really is similar in a
number of important ways to the approach advocated in this course. If you choose this
option, describe what those key similarities are and why they are important.