The Trans-Contextual Model of Autonomous Motivation in Education: Conceptual and Empirical Issues and Meta-Analysis.

The trans-contextual model outlines the processes by which autonomous motivation toward activities in a physical education context predicts autonomous motivation toward physical activity outside of school, and beliefs about, intentions toward, and actual engagement in, out-of-school physical activity. In the present article, we clarify the fundamental propositions of the model and resolve some outstanding conceptual issues, including its generalizability across multiple educational domains, criteria for its rejection or failed replication, the role of belief-based antecedents of intentions, and the causal ordering of its constructs. We also evaluate the consistency of model relationships in previous tests of the model using path-analytic meta-analysis. The analysis supported model hypotheses but identified substantial heterogeneity in the hypothesized relationships across studies unattributed to sampling and measurement error. Based on our meta-analysis, future research needs to provide further replications of the model in diverse educational settings beyond physical education and test model hypotheses using experimental methods

The opportunity cost model: Automaticity, individual differences, and self-control resources

I contend that Kurzban et al.'s model is silent on three issues. First, the extent to which opportunity-cost computations are automatic or deliberative is unclear. Second, the role of individual differences in biasing opportunity-cost computations needs elucidating. Third, in the absence of “next-best” tasks, task persistence will be indefinite, which seems unfeasible, so perhaps integration with a limited-resource account is necessary

What makes a 'good' review article? Some reflections and recommendations

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Advances in motivation in exercise and physical activity.

Given the considerable epidemiological evidence linking regular physical activity with good health and reduced risk of chronic disease, exercise psychologists have adopted theories and models of motivation to understand the antecedents and processes that give rise to health-related physical activity. These theories are important as they provide the basis for the development and evaluation of interventions aimed at promoting increased physical activity in a largely sedentary population. This chapter reviews three of the leading theories that have been applied in physical activity contexts: the theory of planned behavior, self-determination theory, and achievement goal theory. Advances in research that have aimed to promote better understanding of the factors that underpin motivation in physical activity and the relevant processes are also reviewed including implementation intentions, the increasing importance of psychological needs, and theoretical integration. In addition, the role of methodological improvements such as the measurement of implicit motivational processes and the need for ‘gold standard’ designs when evaluating physical activity interventions based on these theories are highlighted. It is concluded that future research needs to develop hybrid interventions adopting both motivational and implemental strategies to change physical activity behavior, research should extend knowledge of the relative contribution of implicit and explicit motivational processes on physical activity behavior, and investigations to evaluate physical activity interventions should pay careful attention to design and evaluation

The multiple pathways by which trait self-control predicts health behavior

Trait self-control, an individual's capacity to override impulses, suppress urges, and resist temptations, has been shown to be related to numerous adaptive outcomes [1], including participation in health behaviors [2, 3]. In their recent article, Hankonen et al. [4] demonstrated that trait self-control predicted healthy eating behaviors mediated by social–cognitive variables from the health action process approach. I commend Hankonen et al. for demonstrating these mediation effects; their results corroborate key effects in my recent model on the multiple pathways by which trait self-control relates to behavior [1] (Fig. 1). I would like to take this opportunity to highlight some additional interpretations and possible extensions of Hankonen et al.'s work