Values associated with sport in Singapore Junior Colleges

Abstract

The values and value priorities that emerge from an integration of personal experiences, socialisation, and the contextual elements that define the society are associated with the decision to enter into, and commit to, the sport culture in Singapore (Aplin, 1999). The ideational foundations of participation in, and commitment to competitive sport in Singapore are apparently found within the school system. When participation in sport for Junior College (JC) students is voluntary, it is the commitment to representative sport through the extracurricular activities system that distinguishes the real participant from the conscript. In order to determine which values are prioritised in leading the motivation of individuals towards sport-elated goals, the Schwartz Values Survey was used. Groups differed significantly on two of the model's ten components: 'Stimulation' and, in a less clear-cut way 'Conformity'. The comparison between the three groups for the value type 'Stimulation' revealed a significant difference between all those with the mean scores increasing systematically from the non- participants group to the lower achievers, and then the higher achievers groups.