Effects of a Web-Based Intervention for PE Teachers on Students' Perceptions of Teacher Behaviors, Psychological Needs, and Intrinsic Motivation

Percept Mot Skills. 2019 Jun;126(3):559-580. doi: 10.1177/0031512519840150. Epub 2019 Apr 2.

Abstract

Interventions based on self-determination theory to help teachers support their students' autonomy have measured teachers' autonomy-supportive and controlling behaviors as unidimensional constructs. This study investigated whether a Web-Based Autonomy-Supportive Intervention Program (WB-ASIP) for physical education (PE) teachers would alter their students' perceptions of (a) the teachers' multidimensional autonomy-supportive and controlling behaviors, (b) their own psychological need satisfaction and frustration, and (c) perceived intrinsic motivation. We found that WB-ASIP significantly increased students' perceptions of all autonomy-supportive teacher behaviors and students' need satisfaction. At follow-up, we found that WB-ASIP led to a significant decrease in students' perception of teacher intimidation behaviors and students' autonomy frustration. These results suggest that a web-based intervention program to enhance PE teachers' autonomy-supportive behavior and minimize their controlling behavior was partially effective in positively changing their students' perceptions.

Keywords: intrinsic motivation; multidimensional autonomy support; multidimensional controlling behavior; psychological needs; self-determination theory.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Child
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Internet*
  • Interpersonal Relations*
  • Male
  • Motivation*
  • Personal Autonomy*
  • Physical Education and Training*
  • School Teachers*
  • Self Concept
  • Social Perception
  • Students / psychology*
  • Teacher Training / methods*