Causal attributions of elite youth female gymnasts: An investigation of types and antecedents of attribution

This research was conducted to investigate the types of causal attributions made by elite youth female gymnasts as well as to determine the potential influences of others on the attributional process. Participants included 60 female gymnasts aged 11 to 18 from United States Gymnastics Federation Levels 8, 9, 10 and Elite. All gymnasts completed two written surveys, the Sport Attributional Style Survey (SASS) and the Gymnastics Experience Survey (GES). Fifteen randomly selected gymnasts also participated in a 30-minute interview. Results from the surveys and the interviews indicated that the most commonly reported attributions for both successful and unsuccessful performance outcomes were psychological factors. Attributions to successful and unsuccessful performances were rated as stable, internal and controllable by participants. Results from this study contradict previous studies by Weiner (1985) and other researchers who suggested that ability was the most common cause of successful outcomes and that unsuccessful outcomes should result in unstable, external and uncontrollable attributions. Possible explanations regarding this contradiction are suggested and ideas for future research are proposed.