Academic and athletic achievement motivation of collegiate female basketball players

This action research project examined academic and athletic achievement motivation levels of female basketball players in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Seventy-seven student-athletes participated in this study. A survey instrument titled "Student Athletes' Motivation Toward Sports and Academics Questionnaire (SAMSAQ)" was developed by Dr. Joy Gaston-Gayles in 2002 and was used to collect data for this study. Analysis of the data consisted of descriptive statistics, a Pearson product moment correlation and two one way ANOVAs.;The findings of the study revealed a positive, but weak, relationship existed between these student-athletes' academic achievement motivation and their athletic achievement motivation. Also, it was found there were no significant differences between age and level of achievement motivation toward academics and athletics. Results of this study provide information for coaches interested in motivation of female student-athletes both in the classroom and on the basketball court.