Lecture 1: Introduction

Question 1

what did Triplett observe to find his results?

Answer 1

• 1893: observed cyclists and noticed they seemed to be faster when racing with other cyclists as opposed to solo time trials.

Question 2

design of Triplett’s experiment

Answer 2

• Designed experiment based on his observations.
  ○ Cyclists were timed racing alone, they were timed as they were pace with a fresh team of cyclists and timed racing against other cyclists.

Question 3

results of Triplett’s experiment

Answer 3

○ Findings went against predictions at the time:
§ Cyclists had significantly faster times when racing with pacemakers, or against other cyclists than racing alone, against the clock.
§ ‘Bodily Presence of another contestant participating simultaneously in the race serves to liberate latent energy not ordinarily available’ (Norman Triplett, 1898).

Question 4

Triplett’s experiment was deemed what?

Answer 4

• His experiment was deemed the first ever experiment in the history of sports psychology.

Question 5

what did Triplett discover and what did he become?

Answer 5

• Discovered the social facilitation effect and became the grandfather of sports psychology.