Lecture 1: Intro, RM, personality

Question 1

What is sports and performance psychology?

Answer 1

Sport psychology is the scientific study of people and their
behaviors in sport and exercise contexts and the practical
application of that knowledge. So it includes: psychological factors and physical motor performance which is reciprocal.

Question 2

What do sports psychologists do?

Answer 2

Mostly in the field of consulting those in sports but also in the clinical field in rehabilitation. Work with individuals, teams, coaches and parents. Also as sport psychology teachers/educators in study programmes. Also as sports psychology researchers to provide evidence and there are many specifications

Question 3

How are psychological factors used in sports and performance psychology?

Answer 3

As a starting point to understand human performance. Broadly about achieving goals

Question 4

What is the research cycle?

Answer 4

1. Propose a hypothesis (testable prediction about the conditions which an event will occur)
2. Choose a research method through operationalization
3. Collect data
4. Analyze data
5. Develop a theory (organized set of principles to explain phenomena)

Question 5

What are the quantitative methods used?

Answer 5

Surveys, observations, archival data, experiments, lab vs field studies, quasi-experiments, meta-analyses

Question 6

Quasi-experiments

Answer 6

When IV is not directly manipulated by the researcher so no randomization

Question 7

How does validity compare to lab vs field studies?

Answer 7

Lab: high internal validity, possible low external validity

Question 8

Reliability

Answer 8

The consistency of the measure

Question 9

Homogeneity/internal consistency

Answer 9

The extent to which all the items on a scale
measure one construct (e.g., item-to-total correlation, split-half reliability)

Question 10

Stability

Answer 10

The consistency of results using an instrument with repeated testing
(e.g., test-rest reliability)

Question 11

Equivalence

Answer 11

Consistency among responses of multiple users of an instrument,
or among alternate forms of an instrument (e.g., interrater reliability)

Question 12

Validity

Answer 12

The accuracy of the measure

Question 13

Content validity

Answer 13

The extent to which a
research instrument accurately
measures all aspects of a construct

Question 14

Construct validity

Answer 14

The extent to which
a research instrument (or tool)
measures the intended construct

Question 15

Criterion validity

Answer 15

The extent to which
a research instrument predicts an
outcome for another measure

Question 16

Which qualitative methods are used?

Answer 16

• Interviews
• Case studies
• Focus groups

Question 17

What is personality?

Answer 17

Refers to the characteristics, such as attitudes, thoughts, and
behaviors, that make a person unique and remain fairly consistent over time

Question 18

How can we measure personality?

Answer 18

• personality types
• personality traits

Question 19

Personality traits

Answer 19

Enduring and consistent ways of behaving like OCEAN

Question 20

What has research found in personality in musicians?

Answer 20

No differences in agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism in different positions. But singers found to be more extraverted than bassists and drummers while singers score high on intellect/intelligence dimension

Question 21

Mental toughness

Answer 21

a collection of values, attitudes,
emotions, and cognitions that influence the way in which an individual approaches,
responds to, and appraises demanding events to consistently achieve his or her goals which is positively associated with goal-orientation, self-efficacy and competitiveness. Made up of hope, optimism, resilience, perseverance

Question 22

Profile of Mood states

Answer 22

The idea that an ideal performer is made up of certain quantities of each emotion like tension, depression, anger, vigour, fatigue and confusion. Seen as more of a state approach than a trait approach

Question 23

What is the iceberg?

Answer 23

The idea that an ideal performer has an iceberg shape in states-> have more vigour than other states like tension, depression etc.

Question 24

What have results found about POMS?

Answer 24

• conflicting evidence about predictive validity-> does not predict athletic achievement
• small to moderate effects linked to level of performance
• larger effects for open-skill sports

Question 25

Dark triad

Answer 25

Machievellianism (manipulation, low morality, personal gains) Psychopathy (manipulation, impulsive, lack of remorse, lack of empathy) Narcissism (idealized image, low empathy, attention-seeking, self-centred) More likely to be callous, selfish and malevolent interpersonally

Question 26

How do professionals and amateurs differ on the DT?

Answer 26

Professionals score significantly higher on all DT traits and competitiveness

Question 27

How can narcissism affect team dynamics?

Answer 27

Mean/max/core team member narcissism is negatively associated with team coordination and through team coordination, team performance. Mean and core role narcissism impairs team coordination in high team familiarity than low (like later in the season)

Question 28

What are the different types of narcissism

Answer 28

1. Mean-level: team’s general level of narcissism 2. Maximum-level: the highest team member’s narcissism score 3. Core role: do narcissists hold roles on a team that are relatively central and important?

Question 29

How was narcissism and coordination measured?

Answer 29

Narcissism measured through tweets and team coordination through number of assists in the game

Question 30

What are the big 5 personality traits?

Answer 30

Openness to Experience: Creativity, curiosity, and willingness to try new things. Conscientiousness: Organization, dependability, and discipline. Extraversion: Sociability, assertiveness, and enthusiasm. Agreeableness: Compassion, cooperativeness, and kindness toward others. Neuroticism: Emotional instability, anxiety, and moodiness. These traits are believed to capture the most fundamental aspects of personality across cultures and are stable across time.

Question 31

What are the profile of mood states?

Answer 31

The POMS is a psychological tool used to assess an individual's mood states, frequently used in sports psychology. The inventory measures six distinct mood states: Tension Depression Anger Vigour Fatigue Confusion

Question 32

Psychodynamic approach to personality

Answer 32

This approach, originating from Freud, emphasizes unconscious processes and early childhood experiences. Personality is seen as the result of dynamic interactions between the id (primitive desires), ego (reality-oriented), and superego (moral values).

Question 33

Biological approach to personality

Answer 33

Focuses on genetic and biological processes that influence personality. Traits are believed to have a hereditary basis, with biological mechanisms like brain structures, neurotransmitters, and hormones playing a role in shaping behaviour and personality

Question 34

Humanistic approach to personality

Answer 34

Centers on individual potential and the quest for self-actualization. Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow are key figures, and the theory emphasizes free will, personal growth, and positive qualities. Personality development is driven by the pursuit of achieving one’s fullest potential.

Question 35

Trait approach to personality

Answer 35

Suggests that personality is made up of stable traits that influence behavior across different situations. Traits are seen as consistent patterns of thought, feeling, and behavior. This approach is focused on identifying and measuring individual differences in traits, such as in the Big Five personality model.

Question 36

Social-cognitive approach to personality

Answer 36

Emphasizes the role of cognitive processes and environmental influences on behavior. This approach, associated with Albert Bandura, posits that personality is shaped by the interaction between individuals and their social environment, focusing on learning, self-regulation, and observational learning.

Question 37

What the quality indicators used to evaluate the quality of studies?

Answer 37

Sample Size: A larger, more representative sample provides more reliable and generalizable results. Control Groups and Randomization: Well-designed experiments include control groups and randomly assign participants to conditions to minimize bias. Blinding: Double-blind methods prevent both participants and researchers from knowing key details of the study, reducing biases. Reliability and Validity of Measures: Reliable measures provide consistent results, and valid measures accurately assess what they claim to measure. Replication: Studies that can be replicated with similar results by other researchers strengthen the reliability of findings.

Question 38

How do different fields of psychology view choking under pressure?

Answer 38

Cognitive Psychology: Focuses on information processing and attentional shifts under pressure, which may impair performance. Motivation Psychology: Examines how goals and motivation (e.g., fear of failure) impact performance, with performance anxiety leading to choking. Emotion Psychology: Studies the role of emotions like anxiety, and how failure to regulate these emotions can lead to performance decline. Personality Psychology: Looks at individual traits, such as neuroticism, that may predispose some athletes to choke under pressure. Social Psychology: Investigates how the presence of an audience (social facilitation) affects performance, and when it may lead to performance losses under pressure​

Question 39

What are Triplett's studies using the competition machine?

Answer 39

Norman Triplett conducted one of the first experiments in sport psychology using a “Competition Machine”, which involved two fishing reels that participants turned in a race-like setting. Triplett observed that participants performed better when competing against each other rather than alone. His study demonstrated the phenomenon of social facilitation, where the presence of others can enhance performance​