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Research Paper | Psychology | Volume 15 Issue 7, July 2026 | Pages: 1580 - 1588 | India
A Comparative Study of Achievement Motivation and Goal Orientation among Male and Female College Athletes
Abstract: Achievement motivation and goal orientation are among the most important psychological factors influencing athletes' performance, persistence, and competitive behaviour. These motivational constructs shape how athletes approach training, perceive success, respond to challenges, and maintain their commitment to achieving sporting excellence. Although several studies have examined achievement motivation and goal orientation independently, findings regarding gender differences among college athletes remain inconclusive, particularly within the Indian collegiate sports context. The present study was undertaken to compare achievement motivation and goal orientation among male and female college athletes. A descriptive comparative research design was employed for the study. The sample consisted of 120 college athletes (60 males and 60 females) aged between 18 and 25 years, selected through purposive sampling from colleges participating in intercollegiate sports competitions. Data were collected using the Sports Achievement Motivation Test (SAMT), developed by M. L. Kamlesh, and the Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire (TEOSQ), developed by Duda and Nicholls, along with a demographic information schedule. The collected data were analysed using descriptive statistics, including the mean and standard deviation, and the independent-samples t-test to compare achievement motivation, task orientation, and ego orientation between male and female athletes. The findings indicated that both male and female athletes demonstrated comparable levels of achievement motivation and goal orientation. Male athletes obtained relatively higher scores on ego orientation, whereas female athletes demonstrated comparatively higher task orientation. No statistically significant gender difference was observed in overall achievement motivation. The findings suggest that although athletes may differ in how they define and evaluate success, their motivation to achieve remains comparable across genders. The study concludes that understanding athletes' motivational characteristics is important for coaches, sports psychologists, and physical education professionals in creating supportive motivational environments that encourage sustained participation, enhance athletic performance, and promote holistic athlete development.
Keywords: Achievement Motivation, Goal Orientation, Task Orientation, Ego Orientation, College Athletes, Sports Psychology
How to Cite?: Sridevi C. M., "A Comparative Study of Achievement Motivation and Goal Orientation among Male and Female College Athletes", Volume 15 Issue 7, July 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1580-1588, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26719174812, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26719174812