The impact of achievement goals on cheating in sport

Abstract

ObjectiveThe purpose of this research was to investigate the impact of achievement goals on cheating in sport. DesignsWe used cross-sectional (Study 1, Study 3) and experimental (Study 2) designs. MethodIn Study 1 (N = 144) we measured athletes’ dispositional goal orientation and attitudes towards cheating. In Study 2 (N = 125) we manipulated goal involvement and measured cheating in hypothetical situations. In Study 3 (N = 60) we examined the link between goal orientations and cheating in running races. ResultsIn Study 1, acceptance of cheating was positively related to ego orientation and negatively related to task orientation. In Study 2, cheating in hypothetical sport situations was more likely for ego-involved and task-involved than control participants. In Study 3, athletes who illegitimately improved their race times to enhance their chances of winning scored higher in ego orientation and lower in task orientation than those who did not illegitimately improve their race times. ConclusionsThe findings provide evidence for the motivation-cheating relationship thereby supporting predictions of achievement goal theory in the context of sport, particularly with respect to ego goals. Our findings suggest that interventions aimed to promote fair play in sport could focus on influencing the goals of the athletes.