Measuring anxiety

Question 1

how do you measure anxiety and arousal?

Answer 1

-self-report questionnaires
- global measure (low-high)
- multidimensional measures - CA and SA
- trait and state measures

Question 2

what is the competitive state anxiety inventory questionnaire composed of?

Answer 2

27 items (3 subscales and 2 dimensions- intensity and direction)

Question 3

what are the advantages and disadvantages of physiological measures?

Answer 3

adv- direct comparisons, quantifiable values
dis- expensive, require training, response not always reflection of anxiety.

Question 4

what are the advantages and disadvantages of self-report questionnaires?

Answer 4

adv- cheap, no special training, easy to administer, can distinguish between different types of anxiety
dis- response bias/ social desirable answers, difficult to compare to other scores, response can be limiting

Question 5

what implications does anxiety have for coaches and sport psychologists?

Answer 5

• psyching up strategies should be used with caution
• optimal levels differ between individuals and high anxiety is not always detrimental to performance
• plan for what you can control
• identify sources of anxiety
• increase communication
• address motivational issues
• establish realistic goals
• pre-performance routines can reduce anxiety
• practice anxiety management techniques

Question 6

how does anxiety affect performance?

Answer 6

both physically- muscle tension and coordination difficulties
and attention and concentration changes

Question 7

is anxiety good or bad for performance?

Answer 7

some anxiety is good because it focuses the individual on the task at hand which can improve performance
too much anxiety is bad because it reduces the amount of attentional resources devoted to the task