Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine if differences existed in motivation for intramural participation among students of different gender, sports orientation (team and individual/dual), and frequency of participation (high, medium, low). Fifteen domains of the Recreation Experience Preference Scale were included on an instrument that was mailed to a stratified random sample of 1989 students who participated in the intramural sports program at Texas A&M University. An overall response rate of 34% was achieved. A check for non-respondent bias revealed that the groups were similar on all but two domains. Nevertheless, results from this study should be viewed as relevant only to the sample of the study. Domain scores for the twelve groups in the sample were analyzed using an analysis of variance with the least squared means post-hoc test applied to determine significant differences in subgroup means. Physical fitness, escape personal social pressures, similar people and achievement/stimulation were the most important motivators for all twelve groups in the sample. Least important motivators for all the groups included risk reduction, social security and creativity. Males who participated most frequently scored significantly lower than females who participated most frequently for Teaching-Leading Others. Females were significantly higher than males for the domains New People and Learning. Individual/dual sports participants were significantly higher than team sports participants on Autonomy/Leadership; while team sports participants were higher than individual dual sports participants on Similar People and Escape Personal Social Pressures. Content analysis revealed two domains, fun/enjoy sports and competition, as two areas not included on the survey. Differences in motivations between team and individual participants as well as differences in motivation between males and females should be used by intramural administrators to aid them in attracting different participants to their programs...
Miller, Paula Jo Nadeau (1993). An analysis of intramural participant motivation and its administrative implications. Texas A&M University. Texas A&M University. Libraries. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /DISSERTATIONS -1505900.