Issues in development of a protocol to evaluate children's reasoning about ability and effort in sport.
This study developed a protocol to identify in a sporting activity the developmental stages in differentiating effort and ability derived by Nicholls in 1978 from cognitive tasks. 32 boys aged 8 to 13 years were shown videoclips depicting two performers on a split-screen shooting at off-screen baskets with unequal effort. False scores were presented to indicate that the sporadic worker scored the same as or higher than the consistent worker. Subjects were then interviewed about the performers' ability and effort, and their responses were categorized using Nicholls' criteria for developmental level. The responses showed the same developmental stages derived from cognitive tasks, with some new interpretations specific to this psychomotor task. Issues of generalizability are discussed and alternative protocols recommended.
Chelsea School Research Centre University of Brighton, East Sussex, United Kingdom. JW73@Bton.ac.uk
J
J
Whitehead
A G
AG
Smith
D000293:Adolescent; D001076:Aptitude; D001290:Attitude; D001490:Basketball / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D005082:Physical Exertion; D011597:Psychomotor Performance