Harwood, C. (2002). Assessing achievement goals in sport: Caveats for consultants and a case for contextualization. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 14, 106-119.

The contextual sensitivity of the Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire and the Perceptions of Success Questionnaire was evaluated through repeated measures on high-level team and individual athletes (N = 179). It was found that particular competitions did not reflect the general features evidenced through testing, but rather displayed situationally specific characteristics.

The author warns not to assume that results of general tests of the kind used here give accurate information about specific situations. For each competition, it is necessary to do a specific analysis to determine the goal content that will underlie performances.

Implication. Results of general tests do not provide accurate information for specific competitions.

Return to Table of Contents for this issue.