Motivational climate in physical education: correlates between students´ and their teachers´ perception

Abstract

In this study, pupils’ and teachers’ perceptions of motivational climate in Spanish physical education classes were compared. Participants, 2189 pupils ages 13 to 17 years and 94 teachers, completed a Spanish translation of L’Echelle de Perception du Climat Motivational (EPCM). A first- and second-order confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) reported support for the original factor structure. Through an analysis of the agreement among pupils’ and teachers’ perceptions of the motivational class climate results showed that they only agreed in Pursuit of Comparison by Pupils. On the other hand, differential analyses showed that pupils perceived higher Performance Climate whereas teachers perceived higher Mastery Climate in physical education classes. The implications for physical educators are discussed.