Sport psychology

Sport and exercise psychology

study of people and their behaviors in sport and exercise

Objectives for the sport and exercise study

a)understand how psychological factors affect an individual’s physical performance

b) understand how participation in sport and exercise affects a person’s psychological development, health, and well-being.

Research Role

Study problems such as exercise adherence, the psychology of athletic injuries, and the role of exercise in the treatment of HIV

Teaching Role

Teach courses in the psychology department

Consulting Role

Consulting with athletes to develop psychological skills for enhancing competitive performance and training

What are the two distinctions of contemporary sport psychology

Clinical sport psychology and educational sport psychology

Clinical sport psychologists

Extensive training in psychology so they can detect and treat individuals with emotional disorders, mainly athletes.

Educational sport psychology

“Mental coaches” who educate athletes and exercisers about psychological skills and their development. not trained to work with people with severe emotional disorders nor are licensed psychologists

Period 1: Early years 1893-1920

Triplett found that children reeled in more line when they worked in the presence of another child

E.W. Scripture conducted data-based studies of athletes at Yale, examining reaction and movement times as well as transfer of physical training

He also describes personality traits that he believes could be fostered via sport participation

Patrick discusses the psychology of play

Cummins assesses motor reactions, attention, and abilities as they pertain to sport

Coleman Griffith conducts informal studies of football and basketball players at the University of Illinois

Period 2:Griffith Era (1921-1938)

Griffith publishes 25 research articles about sport psychology

University of Illinois research in an athletics laboratory is established, Griffith is appointed director

Giffith publishes the psychology of Coaching

Griffith publishes psychology of Athletics

Period 3 Preparation for the future (1939-19650

Franklin Henry assumes the position in the Department of Physical Education at the University of California at Berkeley and establishes the psychology of physical activity graduate program

Dorothy Yates works with college boxers and studies the effects of her relaxation training intervention

Warren Johnson assesses precompetitive emotions of athletes

John Lawther writes Psychology of Coaching

First World Congress of Sports Psychology is held in Rome

Period 4: Establishment of Academic Sport Psychology (1966-1977

Clinical psychologists Bruce Ogilvie and Thomas Tutko write Problem Athletes and How to Handle Them, and begin to consult with athletes and teams

Cratty of UCLA writes the Psychology of Physical Activity

The first annual NASPSA conference is held

Proceeding of NASPSPA conference are published for the first time

Period 5 Multidisciplinary Science and Practice in Sport and Exercise Psychology (1979-2000)

Journal of Sport Psychology establishes

Olympic committee develops sport psychology advisory board

American television coverage of the Olympic games emphasizes sports psychology

US Olympic Committee hires first full-time sport psychologist

AASP is established

APA Division 47 is developed

U.s Olympic team is accompanied by an officially recognized sport psychologist for the first time

Journal of Applied Sport Psychology begins

AASP establishes the “certified consultant” designation

Period 6:Contemporary Sport and Exercise Psychology (2001-present)

The journal Psychology of Sport and Exercise is developed and published in Europe.

The 2009 International Society of Sport Psychology Conference in Morocco had more than 7000 participants from 70 countries

Concerns emerge about the best ways of preparing and educating students. APA Division 47 focuses on sport psychology as a specialized competency area

Exercise psychology flourishes, especially in university environments driven by external funding possibilities and by its utility in facilitating wellness and holding down health care costs

Strong, diverse, and sustained research programs are evident around the world

Increased interest in applied sport psychology continues

Increased interest in applied sport psychology continues

Why is the Internation Society of Sport Psychology important

They promote and disseminate information about sport psychology throughout the world. Focuses on topics as human performance, personality, motor learning, wellness and exercise, and coaching psychology

Scientific method

How scientifically derived knowledge comes about and how it works:

Systematic approach

Standardizing the conditions, for example one might assess the children’s self esteem under identical conditions with carefully designed measure

Control

Key variables, or elements in the research, are the focus of the study, with other variables controlled so they do not influence the primary relationship

Empirical

Based on observation. Objective evidence must support beliefs, and this evidence must be open to outside evaluation and observation

Critical

involves rigorous evaluation by the researcher and other scientists. Critical analysis of ideas and work helps ensure that conclusions are reliable

Theory

set of interrelated facts that present a systematic view of some phenomenon in order to describe, explain, and predict its future occurrence. Theory turns into practice

Social facilitation theory

Some people performed better in front of an audience and other times they performed worse. When someone knew their stuff they performed better, the opposite happens when they were unfamiliar with the topic.

Study

involves an investigator’s observing or assessing factors without changing the environment in any way.

Experiment

Differs from a study in that the investigator manipulates the variables along with observing them, and then examines how changes in one variable affect changes in others

Experimental group

receive training in how to set goals and use imagery and positive self-talk

Control group

would not receive any psychological skills training

unbiased data

data or facts that speak for themselves and are not influenced by the scientist’s personal feelings

Reductionistic

It is too complex to study all the variables of a situation simultaneously; the researcher may select isolated variables that are of the most critical interest

Internal validity

Science favors the extent to which results of an investigation can be attributed to the treatment used, usually judging a study by how well scientists conform to the rules of scientific methodology and how systematic and controlled they were in conducting the study.

External validity

if the issue has true significance of utility in the real world

Professional practice knowledge

knowledge gained through experience.

Systematic observation

Collecting data through careful and consistent monitoring of behavior or events

Case study

a process or record of research in which detailed consideration is given to the development of a particular person, group, or situation over a period of time

shared public experience

practical contact with and observation of facts or events:

intuition

he ability to understand something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning

psychophysiological orientation

relationship between mental activities and physiological processes

social-psychological orientation

the scientific study of how people’s thoughts, feelings, beliefs, intentions, and goals are constructed within a social context by the actual or imagined interactions with others.

cognitive-behavioral orientation

assumes that behavior is determined by both the environment and cognition, with thoughts and interpretation

Certified Mental Performance Consultants (CMPC)®

Certification through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP)

Can come from psychology OR sport science backgrounds

Focus on performance enhancement + well-being through mental skills training

Not automatically licensed to treat clinical disorders (unless also a psychologist)

The Ethical Basis of Experimentation

Provides the ethical foundation for experimentation

If the answer is already known = no need (and not ethical) to run the study

Experiments should only be done when results are unknown, but possible to learn

Equipoise

genuine uncertainty about which outcome will occur

Core Principles of Good Science

steps for the scientific method

Step 1: Ask a Question / Identify Problem

What do we want to know about behavior?

Step 2: Develop Hypotheses & Predictions

Testable, measurable, falsifiable statements

Step 3: Research Design & Data Collection

Experimental, correlational, qualitative, mixed methods

Step 4: Analyze & Interpret Results

Statistical tests, thematic analysis, comparison to hypotheses

Step 5: Replication & Theory Development

Findings must be repeatable

Strong evidence builds theories

Forms of Scientific Research

Experimental ResearchTests cause-and-effect using controlled designs

Qualitative ResearchExplores experiences and meanings through words, not numbers

Analytical ResearchUses existing data, theory, or literature (historical, philosophical, review)

Descriptive / Observational ResearchDescribes what exists without manipulating variables(e.g., surveys, interviews, case studies, epidemiological studies)

Physical Activity Defined

Exercise Defined

A form of leisure physical activity that is undertaken in order to achieve a particular objective (e.g., improved appearance, improved cardiovascular fitness, reduced stress, fun). – Lox (2020)

Physical Fitness

Health-Related Fitness

Influenced by physical activity and heavily concerned with improving health status

Performance-Related Fitness

Optimal fitness required for occupation or sport performance (e.g., agility, speed, balance, coordination, power)

The parent discipline

Psychology: The scientific study of mind and behavior, including how people think, feel, and act.

Exercise Science: The study of how the body responds, adapts, and performs during physical activity and exercise.

A Biopsychosocial perspective

The belief approach that the body, mind, and social environment influence one another and, ultimately, behavior