Christopher Mark Spray

Loughborough University | Lough · School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences

The purpose of the current study was to utilize the RE-AIM (i.e., reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance) framework to evaluate the national-level scale-out of the Lawn Tennis Association’s “Optimal Competition Parenting Workshop” (OCPW) across a 4-year period. During 2018, 65 workshops were run across the United Kingdom, 1...

Motivation is a key factor in young people choosing to play sport outside of school. For example, when playing sport, you could be concerned with getting better at skills, or you might be more focused on being better than other athletes. Moreover, you could choose to take part in sport because you enjoy it, or you could participate because your par...

We explored motivation, and specifically the motivation to see oneself in a positive light, as an antecedent of implicit theory endorsement in two youth sport contexts. Data from two studies that represent four samples are reported. We provide the first evidence of an antecedent of implicit theories in the physical domain and show that young people...

The purpose of this study was to explore the implicit beliefs and underlying motivational processes of para-athletes, and how these beliefs influenced perceptions of sport performance, as well as challenge the dominant social stereotypes that misconstrue disability as inability. Utilising a qualitative research design, semi-structured interviews we...

The purpose of this study was to explore the implicit beliefs and underlying motivational processes of para-athletes, and how these beliefs influenced perceptions of sport performance, as well as challenge the dominant social stereotypes that misconstrue disability as inability. Utilising a qualitative research design, semi-structured interviews we...

This study provides an in-depth analysis of the psychosocial benefits that 10 post-bariatric patients (nine female, 31–59 years) perceived from their participation in an exercise program grounded in self-determination theory. Qualitative data were collected through observations and interviews. Participants reported many factors which facilitated ba...

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a novel online education program for British tennis parents and their experiences of engaging in the program. Using a convergent parallel mixed- methods design, 13 parents completed pre- and post-program online questionnaires, while a subset of 9 participants also shared their experiences via an asynchronou...

Despite academic interest in sport parenting, there is a lack of published intervention research with this population (Harwood & Knight, 2015). Researchers in the UK (Thrower et al. 2016) and US (e.g. Dorsch et al. 2016) have recently engaged sport parent education programmes. Although initial findings have been encouraging, these studies highlight...

Purpose In light of the extensive empirical evidence that implicit theories have important motivational consequences for young people across a range of educational settings we seek to provide a summary of, and personal reflection on, implicit theory research and practice in physical education (PE). Overview We first provide an introduction to the...

This study examined the effectiveness of an evidence-based sport parent education programme designed to meet the stage-specific needs of British tennis parents. Using an organisational action research framework, six workshops were run over a 12-week period for tennis parents with children between the ages of 5 and 10 years. Workshops took place in...

The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to gather, catalogue, assess, and evaluate the available evidence examining implicit beliefs about ability in the sport, physical activity, and physical education contexts. A total of 43 studies were found, of which 39 were subjected to meta analyses. With only 7 experimental studies, the...

The current study explored coaches' interpersonal behaviors as a mechanism for well- and ill-being contagion from coach to athlete, and vice versa. Eighty-two coach-athlete dyads from individual sports completed self-report measures before and after a training session. Structural equation modeling supported three actor-partner interdependence media...

The purpose of this study was to identify British tennis parents’ education and support needs across contexts and developmental stages. Data were collected in 2 high-performance tennis centers and consisted of 6 months of fieldwork and interviews with parents, coaches, and ex-youth players (n = 29). Using a grounded theory methodology (Corbin & Str...

We examined different methods of assessing individual-level stability and change in goal adoption within the context of school physical education (PE) over the transition from primary to secondary school and between school years in Key Stage 3. We assessed whether implicit theories of ability and gender were associated with individual-level change...

This is an early draft of the final chapter

The present study longitudinally explored sports coaches' psychological well-being (positive affect and integration of coaching with one's sense of self) and ill-being (negative affect and devaluation of coaching) as predictors of their perceived autonomy supportive and controlling interpersonal styles towards individuals under their instruction. P...

There currently exists an in-­‐depth empirical understanding of parental involvement in junior tennis. Despite this, published intervention studies are conspicuous by their absence in the literature (Harwood & Knight, 2012). This has led to recent calls to encourage applied researchers, practitioners and sports organizations to use this body of lit...

Physical educators have a responsibility to create a learning environment that is viewed as supportive of students’ psychological needs and which helps reduce amotivation. The aim of the current study was to examine the effects of students’ perceived need support on four dimensions of amotivation in physical education (PE) (deficiency in ability be...

The purpose of the study was to explore change in children's physical self-concept and self-reported physical activity over a school transition period, as well as motivational and interpersonal influences on these two outcomes. Data were collected from 545 children (mean age = 10.82, SD = 0.39, 51% female) at three time points before and after the...

The parent-related research in youth sport has provided numerous recommendations of how parents could benefit from education and support. However, although these recommendations have offered guidance for potential interventions, no studies have specifically set out to identify parents’ educational and support needs within a specific sport organizat...

This study qualitatively examined how athletes perceive their coach´s support for autonomy, as well as athletes´ motivation, satisfaction of basic psychological needs, and the 2 × 2 achievement goal framework of young Spanish athletes. Fifteen Spanish athletes (six females and nine males) between 13 and 16 years of age were interviewed from various...

This presentation focuses on an educational process for tennis parents during players’ early adolescence (age 10-14 years). The educational process is taken from a study which identified British tennis parents’ education and support needs across contexts and developmental stages.This study used a grounded theory methodology (Corbin & Strauss, 2008)...

We examined the utility of distinguishing between appearance- and competition-focused approach and avoidance performance goals to our understanding of motivation in physical education. Four achievement goals were tested composed of approach-avoidance and appearance-competition components. Three hundred and two pupils, aged 11-14 years, completed me...

Objectives This study examined the construction of the motivational climate surrounding elite sports performers by investigating the behaviours of coaches, peers and parents that were perceived to be motivationally relevant by elite athletes. Design Qualitative – inductive. Method Twenty-eight national, international and world-class athletes (15–...

This study represents a qualitative synthesis of research examining the socio-environmental influences of coaches, parents and peers on athlete motivation, across the athletic career-span. Using a critical-realist perspective, meta-interpretation methodology was deployed to search and analyse the literature. On-going, iterative analysis generated n...

Drawing from theory and research into social comparison processes, the present study sought to determine children's motives for comparison in addition to the coexistence of class and individual comparisons in school physical education. The main and interactive effects of these types of comparisons were examined in relation to pupils’ physical self‐...

The aim of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of the Amotivation Inventory in Physical Education (AI-PE). In addition, the study sought to identify the relationships between students’ amotivation, physical self-concept, and teacher ratings of National Curriculum attainment levels in PE. Students (N = 510) from a secondary school...

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between implicit theories of ability and competence perceptions to changes in approach-avoidance goal adoption in two specific activities in the curriculum. Four hundred and thirty pupils, aged 11–15 years, completed measures of approach-avoidance goals, perceived competence and implicit t...

Objectives This study provided an in-depth examination of the implicit ability beliefs held by elite British track and field athletes, including the antecedents and consequences of these beliefs.Design and MethodsA qualitative design was employed involving semi-structured interviews with 4 Olympic hopefuls in the sport of track and field athletics....

Embedded in the self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000) framework, we obtained self-report data from 418 paid and voluntary coaches from a variety of sports and competitive levels with the aim of exploring potential antecedents of coaches' perceived autonomy supportive and controlling behaviors. Controlling for socially desirable responses, s...

Objectives The purpose of the present study was two-fold: (1) To empirically establish whether young people differentiate their perceived competence in physical education (PE) in terms of the self, mastery of tasks, and others, and (2) To examine longitudinal relations between these three ways of defining perceived competence and trichotomous achie...

Within the self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000) framework, research has considered the consequences of coaches' autonomy supportive and controlling behaviors on various athlete outcomes (e.g., motivation and performance). The antecedents of such behaviors, however, have received little attention. Coaches (N = 443) from a variety of sports...

Objectives: Two studies employed the trans-contextual model (TCM) to understand the relationships between sport motivation, treatment motivation, and autonomy support. Study 1 tested TCM among recreational athletes, while Study 2 examined the effects of causality orientations and autonomy support from coaches in the TCM among professional athletes....

This chapter is intended to provide a comprehensive review of the various theories of social and environmental factors that influence athletes' motivation in sport. In order to achieve this, a short historical review is conducted of the various ways in which motivation has been studied over the past 100 years, culminating in the =social-cognitive'...

This research aimed to develop and validate a measure of integrated regulation based on self-determination theory (SDT) in an exercise context. Cross-sectional and prospective surveys were employed. The measure was developed from first principles from an initial item pool and items were selected using expert evaluators. The validity of the final it...

Grounded in self-determination theory (SDT; Deci & Ryan, 2000), the current study explored whether physical education (PE) students' psychological needs and their motivational regulations toward PE predicted mean differences and changes in effort in PE, exercise intentions, and leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) over the course of one UK school...

This study qualitatively examined the motivationally relevant behaviors of key social agents in specializing sport participants. Seventy-nine participants (9–18 years old) from 26 sports participated in semi-structured focus groups investigating how coaches, parents, and peers may influence motivation. Using a critical-realist perspective, an induc...

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to integrate the approach–avoidance model of achievement goals with self-determination theory in the context of structured exercise. More specifically, we analysed how perceived motivational climate, implicit ability beliefs, perceived competence, and achievement goals contributed to exercisers’ self-determine...

ObjectivesThe objectives of this research were a) to explore the applicability of ‘motivational climate’ research to early career athletes under the age of twelve, b) to re-examine the concept of ‘motivational climate’ in the light of recent scientific developments, and c) to concurrently study the influences of coaches, parents and peers on athlet...

To examine whether motivation to eat variables predict changes in dieting and weight control behaviors in both gender groups over time. Greek adolescents (n=247), aged 14-18 years, completed questionnaires measuring different dimensions of motivation to eat, dieting, healthy and unhealthy weight control behaviors. Dieting and weight control behavio...

Coping with stress is an important element in effective functioning at the elite level in sports, and fear of failure (FF) is an example of a stressor that athletes experience. Three issues underpin the present preliminary study. First, the prevalence of problems attributed to FF in achievement settings. Second, sport is a popular and significant a...

The purpose of this study was to examine the temporal pattern of pupils' approach-avoidance achievement goal adoption in physical education across Key Stage 3 of secondary school. Moreover, we determined the predictive utility of implicit theories of ability and perceived competence in explaining change in achievement goals, along with the moderati...

Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine the antecedents, specificity, and ceiling effects of golfers’ implicit theories of sport ability.DesignThe present study employs a qualitative research design. A constructivist grounded theory methodology was adopted.Method Participants (N = 8) were asked to describe their conceptions of golf abil...

The purpose of this study was to examine the temporal patterns of approach-avoidance achievement goals, implicit theories of ability and perceived competence in physical education across the transition from primary to secondary school. We also evaluated the predictive utility of implicit theories and perceived competence with regard to achievement...

Fear of failure can have negative effects on children in achievement settings, affecting many aspects of their lives. Perceiving the consequences of failure to be aversive provides the basis for fear of failure, and the anticipation of a threatening outcome elicits fear. Problems attributed to fear of failure in achievement settings are prevalent....

Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine causal links between implicit beliefs about sport ability and situational achievement goals among 123 secondary school students (54 males, 69 females; mean age=13.40 years, SD=1.18) from one school in the English Midlands. Cognitive, affective, and behavioural indicators were assessed to test for...

This study examined the network of relationships among moral atmosphere, perceived performance motivational climate, and moral functioning of male youth football players. Participants were 325 footballers recruited from 24 teams of a youth football league. They responded to scenarios describing cheating and aggressive behaviors likely to occur duri...

This paper presents an experimental test of two contemporary motivation theories in the physical domain. The study combined experimentally-induced achievement goal involvement with autonomous and controlling communication styles based on self determination theory to examine young people's enjoyment, free-choice behavior and performance in relation...

The present study examined the cross-cultural validity of the Conceptions of the Nature of Athletic Ability Questionnaire Version 2 (CNAAQ-2) using two samples of secondary school students from the United Kingdom (n=784) and Singapore (n=647). The factorial invariance and structural latent mean differences were investigated. Confirmatory factor ana...

This study examined the utility of Ajzen's (19851. Ajzen I 1985 From intentions to actions: A theory of planned behaviour In J. Kuhl & J. Beckman (Eds.), Action-control: From cognition to behaviour (pp. 11 – 39) Heidelberg: Springer View all references) theory of planned behaviour and Maddux's (199331. Maddux , JE . 1993. Social cognitive models...

Three studies are reported of children and youth aged 11-19 years (n = 3478) examining the nature of beliefs about athletic ability. Drawing on related research in academic, moral and stereotyping domains, development of a psychometric instrument assessing athletic ability beliefs is detailed. Support was found for a multidimensional hierarchical s...

Physical activity is a major public health issue as trends show inadequate levels of physical activity for health and rising levels of obesity. Understanding motivation for physical activity in youth by assessing their motivational profiles associated with school physical education could inform future interventions. To investigate goal orientation...

This study examined relationships among pupils’ perceptions of task-involving and ego-involving climates in their physical education (PE) classes and perceived teacher’s strategies to sustain discipline. The Learning and Performance Oriented Physical Education Classes Questionnaire and the Strategies to Sustain Discipline Scale were completed by 48...

In this study, we examined the patterns of goal orientations, perceived competence, reasons for behaving well and self-reported discipline in school physical education among 511 pupils from years 8 and 9 (mean age 14.2 years). Cluster analyses were conducted on two randomly split subsamples to identify homogeneous groups of pupils on these measures...

The purpose of this study was to examine relationships between personal and situational achievement goals and participation in an optional physical education program, utilising a prospective design. Pupils (N = 123) in their final year of compulsory schooling completed measures assessing goal orientations, perceptions of the motivational climate of...

The main aim of this study was to examine whether goal orientations of male and female adolescents involved in an optional post-16 physical education (PE) programme were related in a conceptually consistent manner with their beliefs about the causes of success in PE. We also determined relationships between these achievement goal-belief dimensions...