Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to quantitatively explore the relationship between
calibration and achievement goals to attack performance in male, collegiate volleyball
players. Three primary exploratory research questions were examined: 1) what patterns of
goal orientation exist, 2) what are the relationships among calibration accuracy,
calibration confidence, experience, and performance, and 3) what patterns of calibration
exist? A study-specific questionnaire was used to measure achievement goal orientation,
experience, and expected performance. Performance was measured from match data
collected on three separate occasions throughout the course of a single-day volleyball
tournament. Preliminary data analysis supported a 2 x 2 achievement goal framework and
multiple goals theory. Cluster analysis yielded two distinct goal profiles: high-all, and
high-approach. Independent t test revealed no relationship between the profiles and either
experience or performance. Correlational analyses showed that high-mastery oriented
players were more accurate in their estimates of performance (better calibrated), while high-performance oriented players were more confident in their estimates. Finally,
graphical analysis showed a slight overall tendency for overconfidence in estimates for
performance, with higher-performing players showing more underconfidence and lowerperforming
players showing more overconfidence. Implications for practice and future
research were discussed.
