Growth trajectories and roles of expectancy, task value, and cost in middle-school physical education

Abstract

This longitudinal investigation tracked the progression of students’ expectancy for success, task value, and perceived cost in the context of physical education throughout an academic year. The study involved 399 middle-school students from China, and data were collected at three distinct time points. Analysis using latent growth curve models revealed positive trajectories in both expectancy and task value, along with decreases in perceived cost. Variations in motivation were observed based on demographic factors, both in initial motivation levels and change rate. At the beginning of the academic year, senior students, girls, and students who were overweight exhibited lower motivation compared to their counterparts, but these motivation disparities tended to reduce over time. Changes in motivation were significant predictors of learning outcomes. Students who sustained high levels of expectancy and task value while reducing their perceived effort cost demonstrated higher cardiorespiratory fitness. The findings expand the theoretical understanding of expectancy, task value, and cost, thereby supporting the feasibility of implementing programmatic interventions to bolster motivation in physical education.