Abstract
Intrinsic motivation was examined in a spontaneous and natural context by observing and interviewing skateboarders as they engaged in their sport. At the same time, the flow phenomenon and its relationship to intrinsic motivation was explored. Data were collected from twenty skateboarders. Results indicated being intrinsically motivated can be a rich, subjective experience characterized by a sense of freedom, euphoria and efficacy, challenge and satisfaction. Likewise, flow is a rich, subjective experience characterized by peak performance, heightened concentration, positive affect, and transcendence.
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Notes
While there may be organized leagues or structured events in some regions, there were none in the province in which this study took place.
Although Hektner et al. (2007) point out that while quantitative methods have ignored the subjective experience, subjective methods have tended to lack systematic rigor (p. 4). Qualitative researchers have made significant strides in establishing systematic rigor in their work.
Approval for the consent protocol was granted by the Interdisciplinary Committee for Ethics in Human Research at Memorial University.
One of the anonymous reviewers raised the question about using a select sample, focusing only on skateboarders. Would individuals in other activities respond the same way? Studying only a single group was seen as problematic.
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Seifert, T., Hedderson, C. Intrinsic Motivation and Flow in Skateboarding: An Ethnographic Study. J Happiness Stud 11, 277–292 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-009-9140-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-009-9140-y