Harwood, C., Cumming, J., & Hall, C. (2003). Imagery use in elite youth sport participants: Reinforcing the applied significance of achievement goal theory. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 74, 292-300.

The motivational profiles of elite youth athletes were evaluated for individual differences in goal orientation and its relationship to imagery use. Male (N = 88) and female (N = 202) young athletes completed the Perceptions of Success Questionnaire to assess dispositional goal orientations and the Sport Imagery Questionnaire to assess imagery use.

Athletes with higher task perceptions and higher ego used significantly more imagery than athletes with moderate to low task and ego.

Implication. Athletes with a clear definition of what is to be performed and how they will perform are likely to use imagery more than those with lesser defined features.

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