To what extent do tangible reward systems, in relation to extrinsic motivation, affect
Olympic athletes vs. competitive youth athletes performance?
Group 4: Psychology
Topic: Motivation in Sport
Extended Essay
Word Count: 3,998
, 1
Table of Contents
Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………....2
Chapter 1: Effects of Tangible Rewards on Olympic Athletes………………………………..5
Chapter 2: Effects of Tangible Rewards on Competitive Youth
Athletes………………….....9
Chapter 3: Evaluation of Studies……………………………………………………………...13
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………....17
Works Cited……………………………………………………………………………………..19
, 2
Introduction
Sports psychology is a more modern and newly researched form of psychology. It
includes many different fields such as: kinesiology, biomechanics, neurology, psychology etc.
The purpose of the subject is to investigate how psychology affects optimal performance,
well-being of athletes, aspects of participation in sports, and issues in sport organizations
(“Sports Psychology, n.d.). Through this, sports psychologists are able to increase an athlete’s
motivation, work ethic, and physical and emotional health through different forms of sports and
exercise. Imagery, motivation, performance, and attentional focus are major topics that fall
under the field of sports psychology ("About Applied Sport & Exercise Psychology", n.d.). This
report will focus on the topic of motivation and its effect on athletes.
Motivation is defined as the inner drive to achieve a goal and the outside factors in which
affect this. In sports, there are two types of motivation: intrinsic (desire) and extrinsic (from
outside) ("Motivation and Arousal", n.d.). The type of motivation in which will be investigated
further in this essay is extrinsic motivation. The topic of extrinsic motivation can be specified
into two different reward types: tangible and intangible rewards. Tangible rewards are a physical
item which is given to the athlete, for instance medals and ribbons. On the other hand, when the
athlete is given praise or recognition, this falls under an intangible reward system since they are
more mentally benefiting in contrast to tangible rewards ("Motivation and Arousal", n.d.). Since
athletes get the most recognition from the amount or type of rewards they obtain, tangible
rewards will be the deeper focus of extrinsic motivation in this report.
Olympic athletes vs. competitive youth athletes performance?
Group 4: Psychology
Topic: Motivation in Sport
Extended Essay
Word Count: 3,998
, 1
Table of Contents
Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………....2
Chapter 1: Effects of Tangible Rewards on Olympic Athletes………………………………..5
Chapter 2: Effects of Tangible Rewards on Competitive Youth
Athletes………………….....9
Chapter 3: Evaluation of Studies……………………………………………………………...13
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………....17
Works Cited……………………………………………………………………………………..19
, 2
Introduction
Sports psychology is a more modern and newly researched form of psychology. It
includes many different fields such as: kinesiology, biomechanics, neurology, psychology etc.
The purpose of the subject is to investigate how psychology affects optimal performance,
well-being of athletes, aspects of participation in sports, and issues in sport organizations
(“Sports Psychology, n.d.). Through this, sports psychologists are able to increase an athlete’s
motivation, work ethic, and physical and emotional health through different forms of sports and
exercise. Imagery, motivation, performance, and attentional focus are major topics that fall
under the field of sports psychology ("About Applied Sport & Exercise Psychology", n.d.). This
report will focus on the topic of motivation and its effect on athletes.
Motivation is defined as the inner drive to achieve a goal and the outside factors in which
affect this. In sports, there are two types of motivation: intrinsic (desire) and extrinsic (from
outside) ("Motivation and Arousal", n.d.). The type of motivation in which will be investigated
further in this essay is extrinsic motivation. The topic of extrinsic motivation can be specified
into two different reward types: tangible and intangible rewards. Tangible rewards are a physical
item which is given to the athlete, for instance medals and ribbons. On the other hand, when the
athlete is given praise or recognition, this falls under an intangible reward system since they are
more mentally benefiting in contrast to tangible rewards ("Motivation and Arousal", n.d.). Since
athletes get the most recognition from the amount or type of rewards they obtain, tangible
rewards will be the deeper focus of extrinsic motivation in this report.
