MEASURING SPORTS PERFORMANCE

Use scientific method to improve accuracy of measuring performance, and hence improve accuracy of goal setting.

· Goal of scientific methodology: ability to conclude whether result

· by chance alone

· or because of intervening variable (IV)

· or because of confounding variable

· Scientific explanation: build on previously existing data

· conclusive evidence: operationally defined with good controls (IV → DV as predicted)

· inconclusive evidence: bad validity, reliability, controls

· causality rare → therefore talk of risk and protective factors (increase/decrease probability of problems)

· Variables

· IV: independent/intervening variable - What you are changing

· DV: dependent variable - What you are measuring (the change in measurement depends on what has changed (IV))

Goal of athlete:

· increase probability of good performance

· increase protective factors

· decrease probability of bad performance

· decrease risk factors

Methods and measures:

• make decisions based on your personal statistical norms (average course conditions, average personal performance. Do not consider perfect or worst conditions)
• operational definition of movement  → compare
  • self to others (indep samples)
  • self to self (1 sample, related samples)
• athletic level
  • low level athlete:----------- DV measured as improved performance
  • high level athlete:----------
    • step 1) DV as reduced variability in performance (increased consistency)
    • step 2) DV as improved performance in tiny baby steps