RSCH 201
Carly Cleveland
RSCH 201
09/25/2020
Article Analysis: Sciences Assignment College Students' Physical Activity and Health-
Related Quality of Life: An Achievement Goal Perspective
The article chosen for this analysis is “College Students' Physical Activity and Health-
Related Quality of Life: An Achievement Goal Perspective”. The paper claims that its purpose is
to examine two by two achievement goal orientations, physical activity, and health related
quality of life in college students. During the study, the researchers had two primary questions.
What are the correlations among the two by two achievement goal orientations, physical activity
and among college students?”, was the first question. The second one being “What are the unique
contributions of the achievement goal orientations to college student’s physical activity?” The
theory that the researchers worked with during this experiment was the achievement goal theory.
This is the main theory that explains how people have two different goal orientations, task an
ego, that lead to different behavioral responses.
These researchers clearly explain their methods bluntly. Because of this, it is very easy to
see that their methods were qualitative and not quantitative. The researchers measured the
outcome of students’ opinions and their physical activity surveys. The questionnaires themselves
were frequently asking “how they felt” kind of questions, which is qualitative style of research.
Ongoing of this thought, it is fairly easy to recognize the specific research design anticipated by
the researchers. According to Kristen Hark, “Natural experiments also generally take place in
natural environments, but they do not involve manipulation- the simply involve analysis of
naturally occurring variables (Hark 105). The data collected while using this design was attained
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by having plenty of students fill out three kinds of surveys. The specific surveys that were used
were: 12-item Achievement Goal Questionnaire for Sport, the seven-item International Physical
Activity Questionnaire, and a 23-item Quality of Life Inventory. Those three surveys were
conducted during the students’ physical education programs and the students were encouraged to
write straightforward answers to the questions.
When examining the results, the researchers claim that they used two different types of
analysis. The first of these is their correlation analysis. They state the different ways of aspects
the study correlate with the different types of approaches they took. They then explain that
physical activity had a low correlation as their “mastery approach” and that there was no
connection between physical activity and mastery evasion. The correlations explained here are
essentially the opposite of each other. The researchers used path analysis too. They specifically
state that “mastery-approach and performance- approach goal orientations had no or low positive
relationships with physical activity.” The researchers then include results in their findings and
say that all goal orientations met the “acceptable fit indexes”. Also, they say that all participants
stated, in general, a high level of achievement goal orientations, and physical activity.
Notwithstanding this apparent success in this specific study, the researchers do list
several limitations that the recognize. At first, they recognized the results of physical activity
were self-reported, so their study was definitely not objective. Secondly, they then explain that
their study was used for a cross sectional kind of design. Next, they did admit that explanation
because the study was only conducted at one university, compared to others around the world. It
was not generalized enough for sure. And lastly, they continued to list other limitations like, the
students selected were in elective fitness courses and the level of fitness was not always
measured right. They did offer solutions to the problems as well. They formerly explained that
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more objective measurements should be obtained for physical activity. For example, using
longitude study methods, or using samples from multiple universities, and selecting students in
regular style courses. This study was very successful in many ways but could be further
examined in the near future.
Original Summary
This particular article essentially examined on how the two by two diverse accomplishment
objectives were utilized to clarify motivations resulted in respect to any sort of physical
movement. Analysts realized a test of around 300 students that were understudies at a college,
which was not named, within the southern United States. Analysts of a point conducted their
considerations I having students take numerous studies and surveys in their elective courses. The
surveys and questionnaires are planning to clarify past partners done that measured
accomplishments objective introductions and physical exercise. The outcome was reasonably
direct. The way of examination utilized given approval association between the past
demonstration. The ponder appears that the authority approached had no relationship to physical
movement. Which the same approach had on a positive association. Sense of this, the past
speculation of a grounded association of physical action was not upheld through this ponder.
They conclude by clarifying that they relationship between physical movement ought to be
explored within the close future.
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Works Cited
Hark, Kristin. Research Across the Disciplines: An Introduction. 2017.
