Dr. Garn’s research agenda focuses on the achievement motivation of young people in an array of physical activity and learning contexts. His research has examined personal characteristics such as achievement goals, social goals, basic psychological needs, and physical self-concept as well as environmental factors such as physical education curriculum, physically-active video games, and perceptions of the motivational climate in relationship to achievement-oriented outcomes. Dr. Garn has been active professionally including current editorial board appointments with Journal of Teaching in Physical Education and Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology. He also served at the national level in The American Educational Research Association Special Interest Group - Research on Learning and Instruction in Physical Education. Dr. Garn has also served as a guest reviewer for a number of journals such as Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, Learning and Individual Difference, Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, and Journal of Applied Sport Psychology. Dr. Garn was awarded the 2012-2013 Helen “Bessie” Silverberg Pliner Professorship in Kinesiology at Louisiana State University and the 2012 Michael Pyryt Collaboration Award from the American Education Research Association Special Interest Group on Research on Giftedness, Talent and Creativity for his scholarship. He has also been recognized for his teaching with the 2011 Louisiana State University Tiger Athletic Foundation Undergraduate Teaching Award.
LSU Tiger Athletic Foundation Undergraduate Teaching Award
Selective Publications
Garn, A.C., McCaughtry, N., Martin, J., Shen, B., & Fahlman, M. (2012). A basic needs theory investigation of adolescents’ physical self-concept and global self-esteem. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 10, 314-328.
Garn, A.C., Matthews, M.S., & Jolly, J.L. (2012). The role of parents in gifted and talented children’s academic motivation. Psychology in the Schools, 49, 656-667.
Garn, A.C., Baker, B.L., Beasley, E.. & Solmon, M.A. (2012). What are the benefits of a commercial exergaming platform for college students?: Examining physical activity, enjoyment, and future intentions. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 9, 311-318.
Falhman, M., McCaughtry, N., Martin, J., Garn, A.C., & Shen, B. (2012). Assessing the eating behaviors of low-income, urban adolescents. American Journal of Health Education, 43, 165-171.
Shen, B., McCaughtry, N., Martin, J., Fahlman, M., & Garn, A. C. (2012). Urban high-school girls’ sense of relatedness and their engagement in physical education. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 31, 231-245.
Garn, A.C., McCaughtry, N., Shen, B., Martin, J., & Fahlman, M. (2011). Social goals in urban physical education: Relationships with effort and disruptive behavior. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 30, 410-423.
Garn, A.C., Cothran, D.J., & Jenkins, J.M. (2011). A qualitative analysis of individual interest in middle school physical education: Perspectives of early-adolescents. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 16, 223-236.
Garn, A.C., Ware, D.R., & Solmon, M.A. (2011). Student engagement in high school physical education: Do social motivation orientations matter? Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 30, 84-98.
Martin, J., McCaughtry, N., Shen, B., Fahlman, M., Garn, A., & Ferry, M. (2011). Resiliency, control, enjoyment, and physical activity in African American high school students. Sports Science Review, 20, 53-71.
Garn, A.C., Kulinna, P.H., Cothran, D.J., & Ferry, M. (2010). An examination of social and emotional behaviors with American Indian elementary students: Issues of measurement, gender, grade, and culture. Journal of American Indian Education, 49, 24-40.
Garn, A.C., Matthews, M.S., & Jolly, J.L. (2010). Parental influences on the academic motivation of gifted students: A self-determination perspective. Gifted Child Quarterly, 54, 263-272.
Selected Presentations
McCaughtry, N., Garn, A., Ferry, M., Martin, J., Shen, B., & Fahlman, M. (June, 2011). The promises and pitfalls of after-school physical activity clubs in promoting physical activity with urban high school students. Paper accepted at the annual meeting of the International Association for Physical Education in Higher Education, Limmerick, Ireland.
Garn, A.C., McCaughtry, N., Shen, B., Martin, J., & Fahlman, M. (2011, April). Social goals, effort, and disruptive behavior in urban physical education: Reports from students and teachers. Invisible college presentation at the annual meeting of the American Education Research Association, New Orleans, LA.
Garn, A.C. (2010, May). A cluster analysis approach to exploring 2x2 achievement goal profiles, achievement, & psychological well being in a middle school PE setting. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Education Research Association, Denver, CO.
Garn, A.C., Baker, B. L., & Lee, K. (2010, May). A prospective study of middle school students’ motives and physical activity. Paper presented at the International Self-Determination Theory Conference, Gent, Belgium.
Selected Grants/Funded Projects
Baker, B., Garn, A. C., & Solmon, M. (2010-2011). Fitnessgram assessments of Louisiana School Children. Subcontract from University of Louisiana-Lafayette. $28,000.
Baker, B., Garn, A. C., & Solmon, M. (2009-2010). Fitnessgram assessments of Louisiana School Children. Subcontract from University of Louisiana-Lafayette. $35,000.