2. Introduction and Research Methods
Chapter 1
Introduction and Research Methods

3. Outline What is Sport Psychology?
What is the history of Sport Psychology?
How do we study Sport Psychology?
What are some current issues in Sport Psychology?

4. What is Sport Psychology?
A science in which the broad principles of psychology are applied, in a sport or exercise setting, to enhance a person’s performance and maximize their potential
Figure Notes:
New York Mets team psychologist Jonathan Fader is available to all players who want to use his services. Perhaps his services helped the Mets reach the 2015 World Series.

5. What do we mean by performance?
Performing well under intense pressure
Improving team cohesion, goals, communication
Maintaining motivation
Reinforcing skills and habits, reduce burnout

6. How do psychologists fit in?
Researchers: Ask questions about psychological factors that predict athletic performance, and design research studies to answer these questions
Teachers: Teach college courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels that focus on the impact of psychology on athletic performance
Therapists/Clinical Psychologists: Provide mental health care to those struggling in some way with their sport
Consultants: Work with coaches and/or teams to improve overall team performance

7. Clinical/counseling sport psychology
Extensive training (often doctoral level) in the field of clinical or counseling psychology
Licensed by a state board to treat people with psychological disorders
Specific training in issues related to sport and exercise psychology

8. Educational sport psychology specialists
Extensive training in sport and exercise science
Educate athletes and coaches about how psychological factors influence performance
Not able to treat athletes with psychological disorders

9. Becoming a sport psychologist
Strong interpersonal skills
Knowledge of both sport science and psychology
Must know the particulars of a sport, as well as strategies for enhancing performance

10. Becoming a sport psychologist
Sport psychologists often work in academic settings, as it can be difficult to obtain a position working with an elite athlete or team
Some work in related areas: exercise psychology or performance psychology

11. History of Sport Psychology: The early years (pre 1950)
1890: Pierre de Coubertin uses the phrase “La psychologie du sport”
1897: Norman Triplett observed that cyclists are faster when they race with others than when they race alone
1923: Coleman Griffith (father of American sport Psychology) developed the class, “Psychology and Athletics”

12. History of Sport Psychology: The early years (pre 1950)
1890: Pierre de Coubertin uses the phrase “La psychologie du sport”
1897: Norman Triplett observed that cyclists are faster when they race with others than when they race alone
1923: Coleman Griffith (father of American sport Psychology) developed the class, “Psychology and Athletics”

13. History of Sport Psychology: The formative years (1950-1980)
Changed from a focus on exercise physiology/motor learning, to psychological factors influencing athletic skills and performance
Optimal states of arousal
Benefits of imagery
Strategies for managing anxiety
Impact of personality
First graduate sport psychology specialization, started by Dorothy Harris at Penn State

14. History of Sport Psychology: The formative years (1950-1980) cont.
A general movement from academic to applied focus
1966: Thomas Tutko and Bruce Ogilivie publish Problem Athletes and How to Handle Them
Professional organizations & Journals
1965: International Society of Sport Psychology (ISSP)
1966: North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA)
1979: Journal of Sport Psychology (now called Sport and Exercise Psychology)

15. History of Sport Psychology: the contemporary years (1980-)
Embraced by U.S. Olympic Committee
1980: The U.S. Olympic Committee develops a Sport Psychology Advisory Board
1985: Full-time sport psychologist hired
1988: Sport psychologist accompanies the U.S. Olympic team
Establishment of more organizations, including Division 47 of the APA

16. History of Sport Psychology: the contemporary years (1980-)
Embraced by U.S. Olympic Committee
1980: The U.S. Olympic Committee develops a Sport Psychology Advisory Board
1985: Full-time sport psychologist hired
1988: Sport psychologist accompanies the U.S. Olympic team
Establishment of more organizations, including Division 47 of the APA

17. How do we study Sport Psychology?
Propose a question (hypothesis)
Choose a research method
Collect data
Analyze data
Develop a theory

18. How do we study Sport Psychology?
Start with a question, based on observations, intuitions, or existing theories or research
Develop Hypotheses
testable predictions about the conditions under which an event will occur

19. How do we study Sport Psychology?
Choose a research method for testing the question
Decide how you will measure the variable you want to test
Collect and analyze your data
Develop a coherent theory

20. Descriptive Research Methods
Survey/Interview
Qualitative methods
Naturalistic observation, case studies, focus groups
Archival research
Meta-analysis
A statistical technique for combining results across multiple studies

21. Descriptive Research Methods
Advantages
Disadvantages
Relatively easy to conduct, cost-efficient
Typically examine real-world situations
People may inaccurately report attitudes/behaviors
Findings may not generalize (a common issue)
Descriptive research methods cannot prove that one variable causes another

22. Experimental Research Methods
Requires some control over the environment
Requires random assignment of people to the different experimental conditions
Quasi-experiment: essentially an experiment without random assignment

23. Improving research quality
External validity
Are the results consistent when the experiment is repeated with different populations?
Ecological validity
Are the methods, materials, and setting of the study similar enough to the real-world issue being examined?

24. Current issues in Sport Psychology: Ethics
A sport psychologist must display competence, integrity, professional and scientific responsibility, respect for people’s rights and dignity, concern for others’ welfare, social responsibility
Potential Issues
Knowledge of drug use, recruiting violations, sexual assault, or gambling activity
Moral objection to particular sports
Providing consultation to peers

25. Current Issues in Sport Psychology: Ethics

26. Current issues in Sport Psychology: Diversity
The field lacks diversity, needs to attract more women and people of color
Research needs to include more diverse samples
Much past research has been with white males
Researchers need to be aware of multicultural issues that influence athletes

27. Current issues in Sport Psychology: Empirical Basis
Lack of emphasis on empirical research
The effectiveness of techniques is sometimes unverified through scientific research
Not enough experimental research with random assignment, manipulation of variables, and use of a control group