The development and initial validation of the Exercise Causality Orientations Scale
- 1 January 2001
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis Ltd in Journal of Sports Sciences
- Vol. 19 (6), 445-462
- https://doi.org/10.1080/026404101300149393
Abstract
Deci and Ryan's causality orientations theory suggests that there are individual differences in motivational orientation towards initiating and regulating behaviour. They described three causality orientations: autonomy, control and impersonal. The aim of this paper is to describe the development and concurrent validity of the Exercise Causality Orientations Scale (ECOS), which was designed to measure the strength of these three orientations within exercise. Altogether, 592 working adults aged 35.0±11.4 years (mean±s ) completed the ECOS and measures of self-determination, self-consciousness and social desirability. The analysis was conducted in two parts. First, the data were subjected to confirmatory factor analysis using a multi-trait, multimethod framework. The original model resulted in a poor fit to the data. On the basis of its modification indices, three scenarios with ambiguous items were removed successively, resulting in a scale with good psychometric properties. Secondly, Pearson's correlations were conducted between the subscales of the ECOS and those of the questionnaires used for validation. Most of the results supported a priori hypotheses. In conclusion, our results show the ECOS to have good psychometric properties and they provide some support for its concurrent validity.Keywords
This publication has 33 references indexed in Scilit:
- The exercise motivation scale: Its multifaceted structure and construct validityJournal of Applied Sport Psychology, 1999
- On the Factorial and Construct Validity of the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory: Conceptual and Operational ConcernsResearch Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 1997
- Physical Activity and Health: Dose-Response IssuesResearch Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 1995
- Effect of Sample Size on Goodness-Fit of-Fit Indices in Structural Equation ModelsJournal of Social Service Research, 1995
- Establishing Factor Validity Using Variable Reduction in Confirmatory Factor AnalysisEducational and Psychological Measurement, 1995
- Causality Orientations, Failure, and AchievementJournal of Personality, 1994
- The Multidimensional Structure of Physical Fitness: Invariance over Gender and AgeResearch Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 1993
- A New Incremental Fit Index for General Structural Equation ModelsSociological Methods & Research, 1989
- Personal and Situational Factors Affecting Exercise Involvement: The Importance of EnjoymentResearch Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 1985
- The general causality orientations scale: Self-determination in personalityJournal of Research in Personality, 1985