The Role of Dispositional Goals (Task and Ego) in Development of Moral Reasoning

Miltiadis Proios & George Balasas

Department of Physical Education and Sports Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hellas

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to examine the interaction of the perspective goals (task and ego) in the athletes’ moral reasoning, as well as the effect of age, education, experience, type of sport and gender on dispositional goal orientation. A total of 183 males and 102 females athletes (ages 14-42 years) completed the Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire (Duda & Nicholls, 1992) and the Defining Issues Test (Rest, 1979). Multivariate analyses of variance showed that the athletes’ goal orientation is significantly affected by age, education and type of sport. Hierarchical regression analyses established that task orientation was a positive predictor in stages 2, 4 and 6 of the athletes’ moral reasoning. On the contrary, the ego orien- tation was found to be a negative predictor in stage 6 of moral reasoning. Thus, it is concluded that moral reasoning can be predicted by means of goal orientation, the dispositional aspect of which is affected by age, education and type of sport.

Keywords: moral reasoning, dispositional, sport