Lecture 2- Sport/Exercise Psych as a Science

Question 1

Is Sport/Ex Psych primarily a Sport/Ex Science or primarily a branch of Psychology?

Answer 1

Sport Psychology is primarily a branch of science.
- This is because applied sport and exercise techniques are only as useful as the science behind them. If there is no knowledge, this wont work.

Question 2

What is ‘Science’?

Answer 2

science is systematised knowledge gained from observation, study and experimentation carried out to determine the nature or principles of what is being studied

Question 3

• The important part of this is that it is systematic knowledge as opposed to

Answer 3

intuition, opinion or belief

Question 4

Science has four main goals:

Answer 4

1-Systematic
2-Control
3-Empirical
4-Critical

Question 5

Systematic

Answer 5

– done systematically

Question 6

control

Answer 6

trying to control what we are doing so that we have accuracy

Question 7

3. Empirical

Answer 7

basing something on information more reliable than our own opinion – there can be several flaws in forming an idea based entirely on our own opinion

Question 8

Critical

Answer 8

being critical of the data and the questions being asked around it

Question 9

• Good science is essential if sport and exercise participants

Answer 9

are to receive reliable information regarding their performance. As coaches, athletes, supporters, team mates, this good science is essential because we want to receive sold information based on solid evidence for solid effects.

Question 10

Sport Psychology builds its body of knowledge on the

Answer 10

evidence surrounding which follows the “Scientific method”

Question 11

• Facts vs myths

Answer 11

• we want the facts!!!
• sport builds character, arousal improves performance, perfectionism can help but also hurt performance. – this is a lot based on perception

Question 12

Science is organised, repeatable, structured and informative findings

Generally there are multiple approaches to research which include

Answer 12

Generally there are multiple approaches to research which include
- historical,
- observational,
- descriptive
- experimental.

Question 13

Science relies on

Answer 13

observed evidence rather than biased judgments. For example, perfectionism as a personality trait requires a lot of evidence but it cannot be applied to everyone. The data collected and applied is observed evidence.

Question 14

what is a theory

Answer 14

Theory goes beyond observations and descriptions to explain and predict behavoiur

Question 15

Theories are never referred to as being complete or absolute

Answer 15

they are constantly being modified and replaced based on developing research.

Question 16

Theories are very important because they help you to understand

Answer 16

how they apply in a theoretical sense but also apply in a more general setting.

Question 17

are theories used on an individual or population level

Answer 17

Note that theories are all individualised and should be applied individually rather than to a broad population.