Investigation of motivation profiles and perception of success of high school students who participate in sports based on certain variables

The purpose of the study was to investigate the motivation profiles and perception of succes of high school students based on certain variables (sex, school type, age, sports participation frequency, sport age). In this study 161 (%68,5) male, 74 (%31,5) female total of 235 subjects were participated. Subjects were between 14-18 years old and avarage age was 15,86±1,04. In this study 235 students from eight different schools (four government, four private schools) were included. 112 (%47,7) students were from private schools and 123 (%52,3) schools were from government schools. Based on sports age 43 (%18,4) students were classified as beginners (1-2 years), 65 (%27,6) students were classified as novices (3-4 years), and 127 (%54) students were classified as long term participants (5 years or more). Based on sports participation frequency however, 65 (%27,7) students were classified as rarely participants (1-2 days/week) 95 (%40,4) students were classified as average frequency participants and 75 (%31,9) students were classified as high frequents sports participants. Also subjects were asked to fill Personal Information Forms. In this study casual comparison method was used. In order to find out if there was a statistically significant differences among group means, independent sample t test was used when the group number was two, an done was anova was used when the group number was more than two. In this study subjects motivation profiles and perception of success were investigated based on sex, school type, age, sports participation frequency and sport age. When comparison made based on sex, there was a statistically significant difference favoring female subjects for task approach(p<0,05). When comparison was made on school type, statistically significant difference was found favoring private school students(p<0,05). When subjects motivational profiles and perception of success were compared with their age, low relation was observed between age and external motivation and average positive significant relationship was found between age and not being motivated(p<0,05). When frequency of sports participation was investigated subjects who participated in sports more frequently had statistically significant differences on internal motivation(p<0,05). When comparison made based on sports age, statistically significant difference was observed on both internal and external motivation, this difference favors subjects who participates in sports for a long time(p<0,05). On internal motivation this difference favors subjects who participate in sports longer however on external motivation the difference favors subjects who participates mid range participation. Results of the study indicated that, when motivation profiles and perception of success characteristics were investigated related based on sex, school type, age, frequency of sports participation and sports age, statistically significant differences were observed. It was considered that in educational system and social life increase in sports participation oppurtunites may have a positive effect on motivation profiles and perception of success, also they may have a positive contributions on students physical, intellectual and social development.