MARIA NEWTON

I'm most interested in the understanding how the psychological climate impacts variability in motivation in physical activity settings.  I utilize achievement goal theory and more recently, conceptualizations of the caring climate.  According to achievement goal theory, fostering a task-involving climate wherein participants guage their success based on trying hard and improving is linked to a wealth of positive motivational outcomes.  The caring climate is one in which participants feel welcomed, respected, and supported.  Perceptions of a caring climate have been associated with a number of positive social behaviors and well-being. Along wit my colleagues and students, our research explores the impact of a caring, task-involving climate.  We also develop teaching/coaching strategies to promote a caring, task-involving climate.