Attributions: Contemporary research and future directions

Abstract

This article focuses on the doctoral research of the winner of the 2009 DSEP PhD Dissertation Prize, Peter Coffee. Based upon proposals by Rees et al. (2005), seven studies are discussed, collectively providing support for the following propositions: (a) controllability is an important attribution dimension; (b) sport attribution research should examine alternative perspectives to those of Weiner's (1979, 1985, 1986) model; and (c) attribution research should move beyond examining main effects of attribution dimensions to exploring interactive effects. The programme of research demonstrates the potential theoretical and applied advantages for examining an expanded conceptualisation of generalisability dimensions, together with testing interactive effects of attribution dimensions. The article concludes with suggestions for future research.