Motor learning in a self-controlled environment supporting basic psychological needs: Mediating of intrinsic motivation

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of self-controlled environment, supporting basic psychological needs on motor learning, and to investigate the mediating role of intrinsic motivation.

80 right-handed veterinary medicine students of Science & Research branch of Islamic Azad University in Tehran volunteers, after random division into 5 groups of 16 (Autonomy need support; Autonomy & Competence needs support; Autonomy & Relatedness needs support; Autonomy & Competence & Relatedness needs support; Control), participated in Pre-test of 5 trials, Acquisition phase of 60 trails, and Retention test of 10 trails (the following day), in which scores and errors of blindfolded throwing with non-dominant hand were recorded. The Intrinsic Motivation Inventory was completed after exercise. The analysis of data performed via Two-Way Repeated Measures ANOVA, One-Way ANOVA, and PROCESS macro.

The results showed that in acquisition, Autonomy&Competence group was superior (p<0/001), but in the retention, Autonomy&Competence&Relatedness group was superior and similar to Autonomy & Relatedness group (p<0/001). In Intrinsic Motivation and subscales of Interest/Enjoyment and Perceived Competence, Autonomy&Competence&Relatedness group was superior (p<0/001), though in subscale of Effort/Importance, Autonomy&Competence&Relatedness group was superior and similar to Autonomy&Competence and Autonomy&Relatedness groups (p<0/001). The mediating role of Intrinsic Motivation was confirmed (p<0.05).