1. 3.5 Attribution Theory

2. Attribution Theory – What is it?
Attribution theory looks at the reasons coaches or players give in response to their success or failure in sport.
Strongly links to ‘achievement motivation’ – can impact on coaches and players motivation to continue.
Attribution theory is important for coaches as it can give insight into the beliefs of their players.

3. Weiner’ (1970’s) Model of Attribution
Wasn’t specifically created for sport but can be applied easily.
Process of attributing performance has three stages:
Performers must be aware of their own performance.
Performers must accept the performance was intentional.
Performers must accept that the performance is a result of internal or external factors.
2 dimensional model.

4. Weiner’s Model Locus of Causality Internal External Ability
Task Difficulty
Stable
Stability
The 4 categories of attribution
Effort
Luck
Unstable

5. Weiner later added 3rd dimension – Locus of Control
With success players tend to attribute their performance to internal factors: - Self-serving Bias
With failure players tend to attribute their performance to external factors
Dependant on what we attribute our success or failure to, can have a significant effect on our future motivation.
Internal factors (success) - increase self esteem + motivation
Coaches encourage performers to attribute the result to unstable or controllable factors, preventing damage to self esteem.
Weiner later added 3rd dimension – Locus of Control

6. What are they attributing to...?
– Rooney & RVP
– David Hay
– Steve Francis
– Arsene Wenger
- Tracey Mcgrady
– A vs T yesterday
Tough to find any interviews / clips where performers give internal stable reasons for their failure.

7. Learned Helplessness
If we attribute failure to internal and stable factors, we suffer from Learned Helplessness
Characteristics of learned Helplessness
Performer believes they have limited ability
focus on outcome goals (win / loss) rather than process goals (number of passes etc..)
Unwilling to try new skills – believe they cannot succeed.
Attribute to stable and uncontrollable factors.
Do not believe even the controllable factors (effort) will have an impact on the result.
Learned Helplessness : - Specific to one situation
- Over a variety of sports

8. Attribution Retraining
Performers are encouraged to focus on attributing failure to areas where they have control to allow for future success.
“Your ability and effort was good, but perhaps you are playing in the wrong position.”
A coach can use strategies such as:
Learning what players tend to attribute to (observe and listen)
Draw their attention to progression and change
Re focus on task / process goals instead of outcome
Monitor progress for future
Try and ensure initial success to avoid Learned Helplessness.