A longitudinal perspective of the relationship between perceived motivational climate, goal orientations, and strategy use

Achievement goal theory suggests that goal orientations and the perceived motivational climate may influence one another and other motivational variables over time. Therefore, the purpose of this study was threefold: (a) to examine the relationship between perceived motivational climate and goal orientations over time (b) to investigate how goal orientations may fluctuate when the climate was in opposition to the initial goal orientation, (c) to determine how the climate may impact practice strategies. A set of inventories was administered to 162 college students at preselected times throughout several 16-week physical activity classes. Changes occurred in students' goal orientations, particularly when the perceived motivational climate was in opposition to their goal orientation. Aspects of the task-involving climate positively predicted practice strategies.