The development of the Sport Commitment Questionnaire-2 (English
version)
Tara K. Scanlan
a, *
, Graig M. Chow
a, b
, Catarina Sousa
a, c
, Larry A. Scanlan
a
,
Casey A. Knifsend
a, d
a
Department of Psychology, UCLA, USA
b
Department of Educational Psychology and Learning Systems, Florida State University, USA
c
Department of Psychology, Universidad Aut onoma de Barcelona, Spain
d
Department of Psychology, California State University, Sacramento, USA
article info
Article history:
Received 24 March 2015
Received in revised form
5 August 2015
Accepted 5 August 2015
Available online 7 August 2015
Keywords:
Constrained Commitment
Enthusiastic Commitment
mixed-methods research
Sport Commitment Model
Sport Enjoyment
abstract
Objectives: The purpose of this research was to develop the Sport Commitment Questionnaire-2 (SCQ-2)
and establish its psychometric properties. The SCQ-2 measures the updated Sport Commitment Model
(SCM: Scanlan, Russell, Scanlan, Klunchoo, & Chow, 2013) and replaces the outdated Sport Commitment
Questionnaire (SCQ) that assessed the original SCM (Scanlan, Simons, Carpenter, Schmidt, & Keeler,
1993).
Design: Based on prior commitment research, items were generated to refine and expand the original
SCQ subscales and to measure new candidate constructs to the SCM. A multiphase study was then
conducted.
Methods: Phase 1 participants were 753 male/female adolescent athletes (ages 13e19 years) from six
sports representing varying levels of task interdependence. Using similar methodology as Phase 1, Phase
2 assessed 982 male/female adolescent athletes.
Results: Exploratory factor analysis of Phase 1 data revealed 13 factors: two types of commitment
(Enthusiastic and Constrained) and 11 sources. Confirmatory factor analysis of Phase 2 data supported a
58-item, 12-factor structure. In addition, all subscales were internally consistent. Structural equation
modeling revealed that the sources explained 81.8% of the variance in Enthusiastic Commitment and
63.9% in Constrained Commitment.
Conclusions: The SCQ-2 assesses the sources and types of commitment in the updated SCM. Based on
several indices of fit and the composite reliabilities, psychometric support for the SCQ-2 was established.
© 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
One significant way to move the science and practice forward in
any field is to develop effective measurement tools. The primary
objective of this project was to produce a sound, up to date,
ecologically valid assessment instrument to advance research in
sport commitment and for use as an intervention aid by applied
sport psychologists. To this end, we have added to the existing
knowledge base in two ways. First, we have updated and refined
our previous quantitative instrument to assess the new Sport
Commitment Model (SCM) with its significant additions and re-
finements to the original theoretical model of sport commitment.
Second, through the process of quantifying the model constructs
using what we have learned in our qualitative interview research,
we have sharpened the assessment and deepened the under-
standing of commitment.
The specific purpose of this research was to develop the Sport
Commitment Questionnaire-2 (SCQ-2) and establish its psycho-
metric properties. The SCQ-2 measures the updated SCM and re-
places the first Sport Commitment Questionnaire (SCQ) developed
almost 25 years ago. The project used a multiphase design and
studied two separate, and large heterogeneous samples of adoles-
cent athletes.
The SCQ-2 includes 13 subscales, consisting of two types of
psychological commitment and 11 sources. Benefitting from the
quantitative studies of many scientists and our mixed-methods
research, the SCQ-2 captures the commitment process in a more
* Corresponding author. Department of Psychology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA,
90095, USA.
E-mail address: scanlan@psych.ucla.edu (T.K. Scanlan).
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Psychology of Sport and Exercise
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/psychsport
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2015.08.002
1469-0292/© 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Psychology of Sport and Exercise 22 (2016) 233e246