| Participation motivation in sport has been studied since the 1970s. Motives for participation in traditional sport tend to include to have fun, for physical exercise, for skill development, and to be with friends. Additionally, participation motivation research has been approached via descriptive studies or those that focus on expectancies for success (e.g., competence motivation). According to expectancy-value theory, motivation includes both expectancy and value. Hence, two studies were conducted. In Study 1, qualitative interviews were conducted with 16 male and female collegiate Taekwondo participants of different belt rank groups (i.e., white and yellow, green and blue, red, and first and second degree black belt groups). Interviews consisted of questions regarding initial and continuing motives for participation in Taekwondo, what participants valued about Taekwondo (i.e., general value, attainment value, intrinsic value, utility value, and costs), and participants' predicted value of Taekwondo in their future. Data suggest that participants value numerous aspects of Taekwondo and that overlap occurs between motives for participation and the value of Taekwondo to participants. Data from Study 1 were used to modify an existing participation motivation questionnaire that was used in Study 2. Study 2 examined the motives for participation in male and female collegiate Taekwondo participants (N = 250) of varying belt ranks (i.e., white belt through fifth degree black belt). Data suggest that motives for participation in Taekwondo were similar to those motives found in traditional sports. Further, data suggest that additional motives for participation occurred in Taekwondo. Specifically, integrating and improving both mental and physical health, increasing perseverance, and reducing stress were identified among the 10 most important reasons for participation in Taekwondo. Additional motives included the philosophy of the martial arts, which suggest that a mind-body-spirit approach is important to participants. Examinations of potential gender, belt rank group, and ethnic (i.e., Asian and Caucasian) differences suggest that reasons for participation were similar across those groups. Implications and future directions were discussed. |
