A psychological skills inventory for sport

Date
1998-12
Authors
Wheaton, Kerry-Ann
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT:The purpose of this study was to develop a practical, reliable psychological skills inventory to assess the psychological skills of athletes. This primarily involved identifying the relevant psychological skills that affect sport performance. A variety of developmental procedures were applied in the construction of this inventory, including the consultation of sport psychology literature, identification of articles which characterise successful athletes, analysis of research articles pertaining to the psychological Skills, and review of available psychological tests. The initial inventory consisted of 82 items which evaluated six psychological skills: achievement motivation, goal setting, anxiety control, maintaining confidence, concentration and mental rehearsal. The inventory was completed by 304 students from the Department of Human Movement Science at the University of Stellenbosch. The respondents' data were divided into two groups depending on their achievement in sport. The results indicated that the inventory was able to differentiate between successful and less successful athletes on the psychological skills measured. Other aspects were statistically analysed, namely language, age, and gender differences, correlation between individual item and achievement level, and the contri,bution of each item to its psychological skill. The final inventory consists of 60 items, with ten items from each of the six psychological skills. Information obtained from the inventory can identify the strengths, weaknesses and deficiencies in the psychological skills of athletes, so that a psychological skills training programme can be developed.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING:Die doel van hierdie studie was om 'n praktiese, betroubare sielkundige inventaris te ontwerp om die sielkundige vaardighede van sportlui vas te stel. Dit het hoofsaaklik bestaan uit die identifisering van relevante sielkundige vaardighede wat sportprestasie beinvloed. 'n Verskeidenheid van prosedures was toegepas in die konstruksie van die inventaris, insluitend konsultasie van sportsielkundeliteratuur, identifesering van artikels wat suksesvolle sportlui beskryf, ontleding van narvorsingsartikels met betrekking tot sielkundige vaardighede en 'n oorsigstudie van relevante sielkundige toetse. Die aanvanklike inventaris het bestaan uit 82 items, wat ses sielkundige vaardighede getoets het, naamlik prestasiemotivering, doelwitstelling, aktiveringsbeheer, handhawing van selfvertroue, konsentrasie en verstandelike oefening. Die inventaris is deur 304 studente van die Departement Menslike Bewegingskunde aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch voltooi. Die respondente se data is in twee groepe, afhangende van hul prestasie in sport, verdeel. Die resultate het aangedui dat die inventaris tussen suksesvolle en minder suksesvolle atlete onderskei met betrekking tot die sielkundige vaardighede wat gemeet is. Ander aspekte is statisties ontleed, naamlik taal, ouderdom, geslag, korrelasie tussen afsonderlike items en prestasievlak, asook die bydrae van elke item tot sy sielkundige vaardigheid. Die finale inventaris behels 60 items, met tien items van elk van die sielkundige vaardighede. Inligting wat van die inventaris verkry word, kan die sterkpunte en tekortominge van atlete bepaal, wat as basis vir die ontwikkeling van 'n sielkundige program kan dien.
Description
Thesis (M Sport Sc)-- Stellenbosch University, 1998.
Keywords
Athletes -- Psychology, Sports performance -- Psychological aspects, Psychological skills inventory, Theses -- Sport science, Dissertations -- Sport science
Citation