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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships of scholarship status, perception of scholarship, sport played and gender with levels of intrinsic motivation, (IM) of NCAA Division II male and female athletes from three different sport domains. This study is based on a pilot study, which examined similar variables in a study of NCAA Division II womens soccer players in the spring of 2005 (Fuini, 2005). Results of this study confirmed many of the hypotheses as set forth by the author. The study revealed that levels of IM are highest for athletes without scholarship and lowest for athletes with half scholarship. Thus higher scholarship status correlated adversely with levels of IM in this population. Significant positive correlations were found between IM and effort and importance (E/I), perceived competence (PCOMP), perceived choice (PCHOICE) and the self-created Athlete Perception Questionnaire (APQ) perceived performance scale. As hypothesized IM correlated negatively with the pressure tension (P/T) scale and the APQ perceived control scale. These findings were consistent with the theoretical ideas of Cognitive Evaluation Theory and findings in the literature regarding the independent and dependent variables. Non-significant findings were found regarding levels of IM and gender and sport played.