UNDERSTANDING THE GOAL SETTING PROCESS: AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE EXPERIENCES AND ATTITUDES OF HIGH SCHOOL TRACK ATHLETES
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Authors
Kanter, Noah Mordecai Wolfson
Issue Date
1996
Type
Thesis
Language
en
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
This study is an in-depth investigation into the attitudes and behavior surrounding a structured goal setting program on a high school Cross Country / Track Team. This investigation looks into the process behind the goal setting experience and what it means to the athlete. The purpose of the study is to obtain reasons and suggestions for how, or if, the goal setting process works for these high school athletes that use a variety of goal setting tools, particularly use of a book, Computerized Running Training Programs.
Data is collected through 3 processes: interviews, questionnaires, and journal entries. All three forms of data are analyzed by sorting individual responses into categories. These categories are in the form of themes that describe the athletes' outlook in specific goal setting areas.
The researcher is the main tool in extracting data from the subjects, therefore is an important factor to considering when interpreting the data. The researcher is also involved with the athletes' introduction to sport psychology skills, particularly, goal setting techniques. It is apparent that the investigator's closeness to the athlete influences the responses that are given to questions, degree of goal setting knowledge they have, and way the researcher interprets the data given to him. These factors can be both negative and positive.