Norwegian business athletes : a qualitative study on motivational- and achievement factors among leaders who participate in the Birkebeiner Race
Master thesis
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Date
2014-02-19Metadata
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- Master of Science [1622]
Abstract
There exists extensive research regarding motivation to exercise in various sports
and physical activities, no study however, has qualitatively examined the
motivation for Norwegian business leaders to participate in Birken. The primary
purpose of this study was to answer the following research question:
“What motivates Norwegian business leaders to participate in Birken, and to
what extent is achievement important?” Aspects from self-determination theory
(SDT), and the theory about the need for achievement were used in order to
answer this question. A total sample of 11 informants from various business
sectors, were interviewed. Results from the semi- structured interviews revealed
that Birken plays a vital role in meeting the basic psychological needs proposed
by SDT. The findings show that the informants are both intrinsically and
extrinsically motivated to take part in the race, in addition to having a high need
for achievement. Observations from the findings showed that competitiveness and
planning were significant among the informants, and that feedback was not an
important aspect for them to participate in the race. Finally, the results from the
present thesis are to a large degree inconsistent with how leaders who participate
in Birken have been portrayed by the media.
Description
Masteroppgave(MSc) in Master of Science in Leadership and Organizational Psychology - Handelshøyskolen BI, 2014