ABSTRACT
It is obvious to those involved in Physical Education (PE) that it is an environment where motivational issues are highly salient. Some children are strongly motivated towards PE and see it as the highlight of their school day. Indeed, research has long shown that sporting prowess is a major source of social status for children, especially for boys. Motivation to succeed in the PE or sport environment, therefore, is expected to be high for some, if not many, young people. However, PE has also been identified as a source of stress for some children and has even been cited as a major reason for truancy. Clearly such children are ‘amotivated’ in respect of PE. The arena of PE, therefore, is important for the study of pupil motivation.
