Quantitative Methods - Research Paper Example

Quantitative Methods in Sports Psychology of the of the Quantitative Methods in Sports Psychology Summary This article tests the predictability of Attention Control Theory (ACT) by examining the effect of anxiety on attention control and how this subsequently reacts on performance effectiveness and performance efficiency of a group of elite shotgun shooters.Type of Quantitative Research ConductedA sample of 16 shotgun shooters was tested under both low anxiety (normal practice) and high anxiety (competitive) conditions.

Point of gaze was calculated by a head mounted corneal reflection system, while motion of the gun was captured by using markers placed on the barrel and recorded by two stationary cameras, further analyzed using optical tracking software (Causer et al., 2011). Variables (Independent Variable, Dependent Variable) Used in the Research The quiet eye (QE) duration1 and onset were analyzed along with gun barrel displacement and variability. Performance outcome scores (successful vs. unsuccessful) were also recorded.

In this case the independent variable is the shooter’s QE duration and gun barrel kinematics and the dependent variable is the conditions of low and high anxiety under which the performance has been evaluated. As the conditions changed from low anxiety (normal practice) to high anxiety (competition), there was a noticeable decrease in performance effectiveness and performance efficiency. Longer quiet eye duration has been linked to successful performance in research involving aiming tasks (Vickers, 1996).

It was seen that the selected participants had shorter quiet eye durations, less efficient gun motion, and a decreased performance outcome (fewer successful trials) under high anxiety conditions as compared with low anxiety conditions. The gathered results support the predictions of ACT that when anxiety disrupting control processes such as goal-directed attention is compromised this leads to a significant reduction in performance effectiveness (Eysenck et al., 2007).Treatment Conditions of the Experimental Group (Independent Variable) Evidence suggests that anxiety-inducing situations such as stress or pressure to perform in sports such as golf, target shooting, ice hockey, billiards and basketball serve to reduce QE duration as a result of less efficient processing, thus leading to more fixations of shorter duration which produce less efficient results.

Skeet is an Olympic event requiring shooters to hit moving targets within a given time frame. Detecting and tracking the target efficiently contribute well to performance. The selected participants had to shoot two targets- one each from a high and low tower located to the right and left of them. Mental readiness and mental effort of the participants was also calculated using the MRF-3 and RSME scales. Specific Measures Used for the Dependent Variable In the experiment, participants were first told to shoot under normal conditions and that their performance would not be recorded.

In the second instance, participants were told that their performance would not only be recorded and compared against all others, but that a reward of $1000, $500 and $300 would be given to those standing first, second and third overall respectively. Half of the group performed under normal conditions first and then were told to switch to competitive conditions, while it was the reverse with the other half, these performing under competitive conditions first and later allowed to wind down to normal practice.

The Persistent Link The experiment proves the validity of the Attention Control Theory, which predicts that productive or technical efficiency will decrease when pressure and stress is put on conditions affecting performance. Pros and Cons of the Research Design in the Study & Ways in Which It Could Have Been ImprovedThe pros of this research design are that it closely resembled both normal and competitive conditions and employed good scientific techniques to measure the variables relating to performance anxiety.

The cons are that it was not really a competitive situation but simulated by a reward so that performance anxiety could be created in the subjects. In cases of real competition, far more anxiety would be produced which could affect results more drastically. Simulating further by creating a situation of friendly competition with participants from various nations would be one way to make the situation more realistic. ReferencesCauser, J.; Holmes, P.S.; Smith, N. C. & Williams, M.A. (2011). Anxiety, Movement Kinematics, and Visual Attention in Elite-Level Performers.

Emotion Magazine, Volume 11, Number 3, pp 595-602.Eysenck, M. W.; Derakshan, N.; Santos, R., & Calvo, M. G. (2007). Anxiety and cognitive performance: Attentional control theory. Emotion Magazine, Volume 7, pp 336–353.Vickers, J. N. (1996). Visual control while aiming at a far target. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception & Performance, Volume 22, pp 342–354.Source for Article: http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=12&hid=14&sid=98fbf834-4da9-4f4c-9eb7-a3892d8203ef%40sessionmgr11&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=pdh&AN=emo-11-3-595