Criterion validity of the athletic motivation inventory: Issues in professional sport

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to conduct a preliminary criterion validity assessment of the Athletic Motivation Inventory (AMI). Subjects were 649 ice hockey players who were eligible for the National Hockey League (NHL) entry draft. Each player was rated for the dependent measure, psychological strength, by at least one of three NHL scouts from one team. This criterion measure was based on the observation of on-ice play. The data were analyzed using three independent multiple regression analyses, one for each scout, with the eleven AMI subscales as predictor variables. The results show that less than four percent of the variance in scout ratings was accounted for by AMI scores. The data are interpreted as showing that on-ice behaviors inferred by NHL scouts to represent psychological strength have little relationship to what the AMI measures. Finally, the data are discussed for their relevance to current NHL entry draft screening procedures and to future validity research.