How Can We Measure What We Cannot See? Measurement Issues in Sport Psychology

2012 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 187-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew M. Lane
Keyword(s):  
Sport Psychology ◽  
Validation Studies ◽  
Mental States ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Error Measurement ◽  
Improve Performance ◽  
Measurement Issues ◽  
Large Samples ◽  
Sport Psychologist ◽  
Analyse Data

The assessment of an athlete's mental strengths and weaknesses can be a key role for a sport psychologist. Sport psychologists work with athletes for a number of different reasons one of which is to try to improve performance by helping an athlete prepare mentally. The present article examines considerations when measuring athletes' mental states. Self-report is the commonly used method but is limited by its subjective nature. Individuals might be genuinely unclear on how they are feeling, and consequently can only provide an estimate. Test interpreters should be cognisant of the inherent subjectivity in completed self-report measures. Test developers however attempt to reduce error measurement through the use of rigorous validation studies that require large samples and analyse data using theory-led methods.

How Does Sport Psychology Actually Improve Athletic Performance? A Framework to Facilitate Athletes’ and Coaches’ Understanding

2010 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 386-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris J. Gee
Keyword(s):  
Sport Psychology ◽  
Athletic Performance ◽  
Academic Discipline ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Mental Skills ◽  
Mental Skills Training ◽  
Athletic Competition ◽  
The Past ◽  
Physiology And Biochemistry ◽  
Sport Psychologist

The popularity of sport psychology, both as an academic discipline and an applied practice, has grown substantially over the past two decades. Few within the realm of competitive athletics would argue with the importance of being mentally prepared prior to an athletic competition as well as the need to maintain that particular mindset during a competitive contest. Nevertheless, recent research has shown that many athletes, coaches, and sporting administrators are still quite reluctant to seek out the services of a qualified sport psychologist, even if they believe it could help. One of the primary reasons for this hesitation appears to be a lack of understanding about the process and the mechanisms by which these mental skills affect performance. Unlike the “harder sciences” of sport physiology and biochemistry where athletes can see the tangible results in themselves or other athletes (e.g., he or she lifted weights, developed larger muscles, and is now stronger/faster as a result), the unfamiliar and often esoteric nature of sport psychology appears to be impeding a large number of athletes from soliciting these important services. As such, the purpose of this article is to provide the reader with a simple framework depicting how mental skills training translates into improved within-competition performance. This framework is intended to help bridge the general “understanding gap” that is currently being reported by a large number of athletes and coaches, while also helping sport psychology practitioners sell their valuable services to individual athletes and teams.

scholarly journals The systemizing quotient: an investigation of adults with Asperger syndrome or high–functioning autism, and normal sex differences

2003 ◽  
Vol 358 (1430) ◽  
pp. 361-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Baron-Cohen ◽  
Jennifer Richler ◽  
Dheraj Bisarya ◽  
Nhishanth Gurunathan ◽  
Sally Wheelwright
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
General Population ◽  
Asperger Syndrome ◽  
High Functioning Autism ◽  
Mental States ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
High Functioning ◽  
Major Dimension ◽  
Empathy Quotient

Systemizing is the drive to analyse systems or construct systems. A recent model of psychological sex differences suggests that this is a major dimension in which the sexes differ, with males being more drawn to systemize than females. Currently, there are no self–report measures to assess this important dimension. A second major dimension of sex differences is empathizing (the drive to identify mental states and respond to these with an appropriate emotion). Previous studies find females score higher on empathy measures. We report a new self–report questionnaire, the Systemizing Quotient (SQ), for use with adults of normal intelligence. It contains 40 systemizing items and 20 control items. On each systemizing item, a person can score 2, 1 or 0, so the SQ has a maximum score of 80 and a minimum of zero. In Study 1, we measured the SQ of n = 278 adults (114 males, 164 females) from a general population, to test for predicted sex differences (male superiority) in systemizing. All subjects were also given the Empathy Quotient (EQ) to test if previous reports of female superiority would be replicated. In Study 2 we employed the SQ and the EQ with n = 47 adults (33 males, 14 females) with Asperger syndrome (AS) or high–functioning autism (HFA), who are predicted to be either normal or superior at systemizing, but impaired at empathizing. Their scores were compared with n = 47 matched adults from the general population in Study 1. In Study 1, as predicted, normal adult males scored significantly higher than females on the SQ and significantly lower on the EQ. In Study 2, again as predicted, adults with AS/HFA scored significantly higher on the SQ than matched controls, and significantly lower on the EQ than matched controls. The SQ reveals both a sex difference in systemizing in the general population and an unusually strong drive to systemize in AS/HFA. These results are discussed in relation to two linked theories: the ‘empathizing–systemizing’ (E–S) theory of sex differences and the extreme male brain (EMB) theory of autism.

scholarly journals Athlete–Coach Conflict and a Sport Psychologist Caught in the Middle: A Case Study of Consultancy During Athlete Preparation and Performance in Olympic Games Athletics

2021 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-42
Author(s):  
Jonathan R. Males ◽  
John H. Kerr ◽  
Joanne Hudson
Keyword(s):  
Sport Psychology ◽  
Elite Athlete ◽  
Olympic Games ◽  
Theoretical Perspective ◽  
Demand Model ◽  
Personal Experiences ◽  
Basic Performance ◽  
Sport Psychologist ◽  
And Performance

This case study examines the personal experiences of an elite athlete, coach, and sport psychology consultant (SPC) during the athlete’s preparation and performance in a recent Olympic Games. The qualitative research details how the consultancy process was affected by the athlete’s late admission of the deteriorating relationship with his coach. The concepts of closeness, commitment, complementarity, and co-orientation provided a theoretical perspective to the SPC’s interpretation of athlete performance and the interpersonal conflict that developed between athlete and coach. The basic performance demand model provided an applied perspective. The SPC’s commentary adopts a reflexive discursive style that also focuses on the SPC’s role in the consultancy process and the effectiveness of the performance demand model materials. Five important recommendations arise from the case study, and these might inform other SPCs’ future athlete–coach consultancies and interventions.

Knowledge Development and Implementation in Sport Psychology: A Review of The Sport Psychologist, 1987–1992

1994 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 331-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin S. Vealey
Keyword(s):  
Sport Psychology ◽  
Intervention Studies ◽  
Design Method ◽  
Content Area ◽  
Knowledge Development ◽  
Social Relevance ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Comprehensive Review ◽  
Sport Psychologist ◽  
Traditional Paradigm

The editorial mission of The Sport Psychologist (TSP) emphasizes the development and implementation of knowledge to enhance the practice of sport psychology. A comprehensive review of all articles published in TSP from 1987 to 1992 was conducted to identify significant trends in knowledge development and implementation since the journal was established. One hundred seventy-six articles were examined and classified based on design, method, objective (scientific or professional), subject characteristics, author characteristics, and content area. Trends that were identified from the review include an emphasis on correlational designs, an increase in intervention studies and the use of case designs, and homogeneity of subjects and authors. Three future directions for advances in applied sport psychology are advocated to increase social relevance, enhance creativity, and reconceptualize the traditional paradigm of knowledge development.

scholarly journals T88. VALIDATION OF THE KOREAN VERSION OF THE 15-ITEM COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT OF PSYCHIC EXPERIENCES (CAPE-15) IN A COLLEGE POPULATION

2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S265-S265
Author(s):  
Sung-Wan Kim ◽  
Jung Jin Kim ◽  
Yeonghyeok Kim ◽  
Anna Jo ◽  
Jae-Kyeong Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Mental States ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Screening Tools ◽  
Initial Screening ◽  
Community Assessment ◽  
Promising Alternative ◽  
Korean Version ◽  
Distress Score

Abstract Background The Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences-Positive 15-items scale (CAPE-15) is another brief, valid screening tool used to identify people at high risk of psychosis in the community. This study examined the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the CAPE-15 in university students. Methods This study had two stages: initial screening with self-report questionnaires including the CAPE-15, and semi-structured interviews to investigate the instrument’s diagnostic validity. The initial screening involved 1,749 college students. The modified Korean version of Prodromal Questionnaire-16 item (mKPQ-16) was also administered. The criteria for ultra-high risk (UHR) of psychosis in the Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental States (CAARMS) were the gold standard for diagnosis. Results Twelve of the interviewed subjects met the CAARMS criteria for UHR of psychosis. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was highest (0.936) for the CAPE-15 distress score (p<0.001). The use of 6 as the cutoff for the CAPE-15 distress score resulted in the best balance of sensitivity (91.7%) and specificity (85.2%), with a favorable positive predictive value of 32.4%. The coefficients of correlation between the CAPE-15 and mKPQ-16 were significant. Discussion This study showed that the CAPE-15 is a good screening instrument for use in community and school settings. In particular, the better validity of the CAPE-15 suggests that it is a promising alternative to other brief self-report screening tools that are currently used to detect UHR. This validation of a questionnaire with a small number of items may make it feasible to screen large numbers of young adults in the community and shorten the duration of untreated psychosis through prompt early intervention.

scholarly journals The Relationship between Mind-Body Dualism and Personal Values

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 126
Author(s):  
Gunne Grankvist ◽  
Petri Kajonius ◽  
Bjorn Persson
Keyword(s):  
Personal Values ◽  
Mental States ◽  
The Body ◽  
The Other ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Beliefs And Values ◽  
Mind And Body ◽  
The Mind ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Relationship

<p>Dualists view the mind and the body as two fundamental different “things”, equally real and independent of each other. Cartesian thought, or substance dualism, maintains that the mind and body are two different substances, the non-physical and the physical, and a causal relationship is assumed to exist between them. Physicalism, on the other hand, is the idea that everything that exists is either physical or totally dependent of and determined by physical items. Hence, all mental states are fundamentally physical states. In the current study we investigated to what degree Swedish university students’ beliefs in mind-body dualism is explained by the importance they attach to personal values. A self-report inventory was used to measure their beliefs and values. Students who held stronger dualistic beliefs attach less importance to the power value (i.e., the effort to achieve social status, prestige, and control or dominance over people and resources). This finding shows that the strength in laypeople’s beliefs in dualism is partially explained by the importance they attach to personal values.</p>

A Survey of Coaches and Athletes about Sport Psychology in New Zealand

1991 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 140-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Sullivan ◽  
Ken P. Hodge
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Sport Psychology ◽  
Positive Response ◽  
General Definition ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Psychological Skills ◽  
Actual Use ◽  
Sport Psychologist ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Practical Recommendations

This investigation examined the current use and status of sport psychology in New Zealand. National coaches (n=46) and elite athletes (n=68) completed appropriate questionnaires that assessed their perceptions of sport psychology. They also indicated the importance of and the success they felt they had in changing and/or developing 21 psychological skills. Finally they were asked about their actual use of sport psychology and any problem areas. A general definition of sport psychology was given and sport psychology was rated by both coaches and athletes as being very important. Most coaches and athletes reported using it regularly. A positive response was received, with virtually all coaches and most athletes indicating they would be interested in having a sport psychologist work with them. Implications of the results are discussed and future research and practical recommendations are made.

scholarly journals Jak ve sportu pomáhá představivost?

2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-127
Author(s):  
Veronika Kavková ◽  
Marek Malůš ◽  
Jitka Taušová ◽  
Hana Válková
Keyword(s):  
Sport Psychology ◽  
Mental Image ◽  
Sports Psychology ◽  
Psychology Training ◽  
Sports Performance ◽  
Improve Performance ◽  
Training Schedule ◽  
Intervention Technique ◽  
Successful Execution

This paper deals with the possibilities of using imagery (imagination) in sports to improve performance by psychological means. This mental technique is often used by athletes to improve their sports performance. It is also used as an intervention technique by sports psychologists and more recently coaches for athletes. Abroad, the Training schedule of imagery in sports psychology training is widely developed. The numbers of researchers dealing with the technique of imagery in sport psychology is rising. The essence is to create a mental image of highest quality, and a vivid picture of successful execution of what we want to improve in our performance. This paper deals with the theoretical aspects of the imagery, its characteristics, structure and detailed aspects of the use in sports.

scholarly journals Efforts to Increase Teacher Motivation and Performance Through Supervision of Head Master SD Negeri 150 Seluma

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-64
Author(s):  
Budi Harsono
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Motivation ◽  
Action Observation ◽  
Improve Performance ◽  
Action Execution ◽  
School Year ◽  
Work Cycle ◽  
Analyse Data ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Research Type ◽  
Research Show

Target of research of action go to school this is to improve performance and motivation learn SDN 150 Seluma pass activity of headmaster supervision. Its research type is research of school action. Activity of this research consist of step planning of action, execution of action, observation, and refleksi. Technique analyse data use technique of obeservasi. Instrumen observation the used is appliance assessment of ability of teacher in the form of instrument assessment of teacher performance and motivation . Result of research show finding that headmaster supervision of SDN 150 Seluma school year 2016 / 2017 can improve motivation work cycle of I equal to 29% becoming 86% mounting 57% and performance learn SDN 150 Seluma in cycle of I from 43% mounting to become 86% or there is make-up of equal to 43%Keywords: headmaster supervision, teacher motivation, teacher perform

scholarly journals A Critical Evaluation of the Reflective Functioning Questionnaire

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sascha Müller ◽  
Leon Patrick Wendt ◽  
Carsten Spitzer ◽  
Oliver Masuhr ◽  
Sarah N. Back ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Sample ◽  
Critical Evaluation ◽  
Reflective Functioning ◽  
Mental States ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cast Doubt ◽  
Psychological Impairment ◽  
Latent Dimension ◽  
Report Measure

The Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (RFQ-8) is a short self-report measure of reflective functioning (i.e., the ability to understand mental states of the self and others) that is presumed to capture individual differences in hypo- and hypermentalizing. Despite its broad acceptance by the field and its regular use in primary investigations of the construct, we argue that the validity of the measure is still not well established. The current research elaborates on why the proposed scoring procedure may be methodologically problematic, the item content might not sufficiently cover the full breadth of the mentalizing construct, and it is unclear whether the measure captures mentalizing processes in particular or rather general psychological impairment. In a clinical sample (N = 861) and a sample of young adults (N = 566), we explore these critical considerations and demonstrate that the RFQ-8 may assess a single latent dimension related to hypomentalizing, but provides little unique variance above and beyond broad dimensions of personality pathology and is unlikely to capture maladaptive forms of hypermentalizing. The findings cast doubt on the validity of the RFQ-8 as a measure of reflective functioning. Future research should increase validation efforts concerning the RFQ-8 or develop new measures of reflective functioning.

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