A Self-Determination Theory Approach to Understanding the Antecedents of Teachers’ Motivational Strategies in Physical Education
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Physical education teachers can influence students’ self-determination through the motivational strategies that they use. The current study examined how teachers’ reported use of three motivational strategies (providing a meaningful rationale, providing instrumental help and support, and gaining an understanding of the students) were predicted by perceived job pressure, perceptions of student self-determination, the teachers’ autonomous orientation, psychological need satisfaction, and self-determination to teach. Structural equation modeling supported a model in which perceived job pressure, perceptions of student self-determination, and teacher autonomous orientation predicted teacher psychological need satisfaction, which, in turn positively influenced teacher self-determination. The last positively predicted the use of all three strategies. Direct positive effects of teachers’ psychological need satisfaction on the strategies of gaining an understanding of students and instrumental help and support were also found. In summary, factors that influence teacher motivation may also indirectly affect their motivational strategies toward students.
Taylor is now with the School of Life Sciences, Kingston University, Kingston Upon Thames, U.K.; Ntoumanis is with the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, U.K.; and Standage is with the School for Health, University of Bath, Bath, U.K.
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