How do motivation and goal setting drive and sustain performance?
Motivation and goal setting: intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, achievement motivation, the types of goal (outcome, performance, process) and effective goal setting using SMART principles.
A focused answer to Eduqas A-Level PE on motivation and goal setting: intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and their use, achievement motivation (need to achieve and need to avoid failure), the three types of goal (outcome, performance, process) and the SMART principles of effective goal setting.
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What this dot point is asking
Eduqas wants you to distinguish intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, explain achievement motivation, describe the three types of goal, and apply the SMART principles of effective goal setting.
Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation
Achievement motivation
The three types of goal
SMART goal setting
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of WJEC Eduqas exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
Eduqas 20194 marksDistinguish between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, and explain why a coach should be cautious about relying too heavily on extrinsic rewards.Show worked answer →
A Component 1 motivation question. Two marks for the distinction, two for the caution.
Intrinsic motivation is the internal drive to take part for the enjoyment, satisfaction and sense of achievement the activity itself gives. Extrinsic motivation is the drive to take part for external rewards, which may be tangible (trophies, medals, money) or intangible (praise, recognition). A coach should be cautious about over-relying on extrinsic rewards because they can undermine intrinsic motivation: if a performer comes to focus on the reward rather than the activity, removing the reward can reduce their drive, and tangible rewards can feel controlling. Intrinsic motivation is more durable, so rewards are best used to support, not replace, the enjoyment of the sport.
A common dropped mark is giving only definitions; the question also asks why extrinsic rewards can be risky.
Eduqas 20216 marksExplain the three types of goal and the SMART principles, and apply them to help an injured athlete returning to sport stay motivated.Show worked answer →
A Component 1 goal-setting question. Markers reward the goal types, SMART and an applied plan.
Award marks for: outcome goals focus on the end result against others (winning, placing), performance goals focus on the performer's own standard (a personal best time, a percentage of successful passes), and process goals focus on the technique or actions needed (correct running form, a rehab exercise done well). For a returning athlete, process and performance goals are best because they are within the athlete's control and not dependent on opponents, which protects motivation during a long recovery. SMART means goals should be Specific (clear and precise), Measurable (so progress can be checked), Achievable (realistic given the injury), Recorded (or relevant, written down to track), and Time-bound (with a deadline). So the coach sets a series of specific, measurable, achievable, recorded, time-bound process goals (for example "complete three sets of the strengthening exercise with good form daily this week"), building toward a performance goal, so the athlete sees steady, controllable progress and stays motivated.
A top answer distinguishes the three goal types, explains why process and performance goals suit recovery, and applies each SMART letter.
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Sources & how we know this
- Eduqas A Level Physical Education Specification — Eduqas (2016)