Developing professional judgment and decision making expertise in applied sport psychology

Establishing and enhancing standards of practice is important in any profession, and particularly so in a new and emerging domain such as sport psychology. Accordingly, this thesis draws on literature from teaching, medicine, and parallel disciplines such as clinical and counselling psychology to propose a Professional Judgment and Decision Making (PJDM) approach to the evaluation, reflective practice, and training of applied sport psychologists. Methods and mechanisms already utilised in these more established professions are considered alongside empirical data, generated from long-term programmes of sport psychology consultancy, as potential means to further enhance the performance of professionals in this developing field. As such, the thesis highlights gaps in current process, proposes an original conceptualisation of practice, and illustrates the possible outcomes and implications of this PJDM approach. In addition, the emergent PJDM principles are illustrated in practice through a reflection-in-action case study, and trained and evaluated in novice applied sport psychology practitioners as a basis for the effective development of PJDM expertise

Determinants for table tennis performance in Elite Scottish Youth players using a multidimensional approach:A pilot study

International audienceThe purpose of the study is to explore whether a multidimensional profiling approach can be useful in predicting a table tennis player's actual and future (one year later) performance. Data on anthropometrics, age from peak height velocity, motor-skills, psychological skills and training histories were gathered among Scottish elite youth male table tennis players (n = 14). Significant correlations emerged between: (a) actual performance rating and age from peak height velocity (r = .71), sprint test (r = -.69), number of years of practice (r = .84), positive refocusing (r = -.58), and self-regulation in learning - self-monitoring (r = -.60), and evaluation (r = .57); (b) performance rating one year later and positive refocusing (r = -.58), self-monitoring (r = -.50), and number of years of practice (r = .80). Results also showed significant correlations between progression scores (2017 rating score minus 2016 rating score) and age from peak height velocity (r = -0.77), sprint test (r = .63), number of years of practice (r = -.52), self-monitoring (r = .69), and evaluation (r = -.58). These results provided preliminary evidence for the usefulness of a multidimensional profiling approach for predicting performance and progression in youth table tennis players

Exploring the use of high and low demand simulation for human performance assessment during multiorgan retrieval with the joint scrub practitioner

INTRODUCTION: The National Organ Retrieval Service (NORS) 2015 review recommended a Joint Scrub Practitioner for abdominal and cardiac teams during combined organ retrieval. To evaluate the feasibility of this role, and to understand the functional implications, this study explores the use of simulation and provides a novel and comprehensive approach to assess individual and team performance in simulated multiorgan retrievals. METHODS: Two high-fidelity simulations were conducted in an operating theatre with porcine organs, en bloc, placed in a mannequin. For donation after brainstem death (DBD) simulation, an anaesthetic machine provided simulated physiological output. Retrievals following donation after circulatory death (DCD) began with rapid arrival in theatre of the mannequin. Cardiothoracic (lead surgeon) and abdominal (lead and assistant surgeons; joint scrub practitioner, n=9) teams combined for the retrievals. Data collected before, during and after simulations used self-report and expert observers to assess: attitudinal expectations, mental readiness, mental effort, non-technical skills, teamwork, task workload and social validation perceptions. RESULTS: Attitudinal changes regarding feasibility of a joint scrub practitioner for DBD and DCD are displayed in the main body. There were no significant differences in mental readiness prior to simulations nor in mental effort indicated afterwards; however, variance was noted between simulations for individual team members. Non-technical skills were slightly lower in DCD than in DBD. Global ratings of teamwork were significantly (p<0.05) lower in DCD than in DBD. Measures of attitude indicated less support for the proposed joint scrub practitioner role for DCD than for DBD. DISCUSSION: The paper posits that the joint scrub practitioner role in DCD multiorgan retrieval may bring serious and unanticipated challenges. Further work to determine the feasibility of the NORS recommendation is required. Measures of team performance and individual psychological response can inform organ retrieval feasibility considerations nationally and internationally

The illusion of competency versus the desirability of expertise: Seeking a common standard for support professions in sport

In this paper we examine and challenge the competency-based models which currently dominate accreditation and development systems in sport support disciplines, largely the sciences and coaching. Through consideration of exemplar shortcomings, the limitations of competency-based systems are presented as failing to cater for the complexity of decision making and the need for proactive experimentation essential to effective practice. To provide a better fit with the challenges of the various disciplines in their work with performers, an alternative approach is presented which focuses on the promotion, evaluation and elaboration of expertise. Such an approach resonates with important characteristics of professions, whilst also providing for the essential ‘shades of grey’ inherent in work with human participants. Key differences between the approaches are considered through exemplars of evaluation processes. The expertise-focused method, although inherently more complex, is seen as offering a less ambiguous and more positive route, both through more accurate representation of essential professional competence and through facilitation of future growth in proficiency and evolution of expertise in practice. Examples from the literature are also presented, offering further support for the practicalities of this approach

Psychological factors and future performance of football players:A systematic review with meta-analysis

Objectives: This systematic review had 3 key objectives: (1) to investigate whether psychological factors were associated with future football performance ( e.g., progression to professional football, better game statistics during the next season); (2) to critically review the methodological approaches used in the included studies and summarize the evidence for the current research question; (3) to provide guidelines for future studies. Design: Systematic ReviewMethods: Electronic databases (SPORTDiscus, PubMed and PsycINFO) and previously published systematic and scoping reviews were searched. Only prospective studies were considered for inclusion. Results: Eleven published studies that reported 39 effect sizes were included. Psychological factors; task orientation, task-oriented coping strategies and perceptual-cognitive functions had small effects on future performance in football (ds = 0.20-0.29). Due to high risk of bias there were low certainty of evidence for psychological factors relationship with future football performance. Conclusions: Psychological factors investigated showed small effects on future football performance, however, there was overall uncertainty in this evidence due to various sources of bias in the included studies. Therefore psychological factors cannot be used as a sole deciding factor in player recruitment, retention, release strategies, however it would appear appropriate to include these in the overall decision-making process. Future, studies with more appropriate and robust research designs are urgently needed to provide more certainty around their actual role