David Pargman

The Effect of Attentional Coping Strategies on Perceived Exertion in a Cycling Task

This study examined the effects of attentional intervention strategies upon perceived exertion in female exercisers (N = 13). Interventions were based upon Stevinson and Biddles (1999) coping strategy model, from which 4 variations of attentional style are derived: internal and external association, and internal and external dissociation. The first of 5 sessions consisted of a sub-maximal VO2 test aimed at assessing aerobic capacity of the participants. In the following 4 sessions, participants pedaled on stationary cycling ergometer at 75% VO2max for 10 minutes, and rated their perceived exertion (RPE) in 1-minute intervals. Significant (p < .01) differences in RPE between the associative and dissociative treatments emerged. The 2 associative treatments resulted in higher RPE levels than the 2 dissociative treatments for the same physical load. However, non-significant differences in RPE emerged between the internal and external dimensions, suggesting that the associative-dissociative dimension is the main determinant of RPE. Pragmatic applications of these findings and future research directions are offered.

The relationship of self‐concept and locus of control to the severity of injury in freshmen collegiate football players

In this study the relationship between self‐concept, locus of control, and the severity of injury in freshmen collegiate varsity football athletes was investigated. Subjects (N = 40) completed the Tennessee Self‐Concept Scale (TSCS) (Fitts, 1972) and Rotters (1966) Internal‐External (I‐E) Locus of Control Scale. Pearson product‐moment correlations were calculated between scores on these tests and the severity of athletic injury as measured by total number of days of participation missed. Results showed a significant negative correlation between self‐concept and severity of injury and a significant positive correlation between locus of control and severity of injury. Results also showed that low self‐concept in combination with an external locus of control was significantly related to injury severity. More attention needs to be given to the psychological factors of injury incidence for athletes who may experience feelings of helplessness and low self‐concept such as freshmen collegiate athletes.

The Type a Behavior Pattern and Adherence to a Regular Running Program by Adult Males Ages 25 to 39 Years

This study examined the relationship between the Type A behavior pattern and adherence to a regular running program. Type A runners among 149 men of 25 to 39 yr. age reported significantly higher self-motivation than the Type B runners. Research should continue to examine motivational patterns associated with long-term adherence to physical exercise.

EYE COLOR AS A DETERMINANT OF FIELD DEPENDENCE-INDEPENDENCE

To determine whether dark-eyed individuals were more sensitive to external cues or more highly skilled in tasks requiring attention to the environment than light-eyed people, a subsample of Florida State University football players was examined (N = 35, age 18 to 22 yr.). Players subjectively reported their eye color and were grouped according to dark (black or brown) eyes or light eyes (all other colors). Their field dependence-independence scores (Witkin, Dyk, Faterson, Goodenough, & Karp, 1962) were derived from the portable rod-andframe test, administered to each player according to procedures of Irving and Henderson ( 1971 ) . Eight trials with the apparatus yielded dependent measures of constant error and variable error. A stepwise discriminant analysis did noc discriminate significantly between the dark-eyed and lighc-eyed groups (F2,33 = 1.09, p > .05 ), SO the hypothesis that light-eyed players would be more field-independent was not supported. In fact, data from very few studies are available to which these findings may be related. Although performance differences have been found between dark-brown and light-blue eye color groups and not between groups of similar eye color (Landers, Obermeier, & Patterson, 1976), Worthy ( 1974) believes that a simple dichotomy between dark and light eyes is enough for research purposes. Since the results of this study yield no significant differences using a simple dichotomy for eye color, and Worthy has indicated performance differences do exist with this classification method, further research into the eye color-performance area is necessary to clarify these equivocal findings.

Biomechanical Correlates of Psychological Differentiation in Female Athletes

Abstract Witkins conceptualization of the perceptual-cognitive ability known as field-dependence-independence was investigated in terms of an hypothesized relationship to sport skill performance style. The volleyball service, as performed by female, varsity, volleyball athletes (N = 12) was fragmented through cinematographic techniques into 16 biomechanical variables. These variables were correlated with achievement on the group hidden figures test (a paper and pencil instrument) which was operationally defined in this study as field-dependence-independence. Stepwise multiple regression and ANOVA were utilized to describe the relationship between these psychological and biomechanical elements of human motor behavior. The findings appear to be in agreement with Witkins contention that performance on perceptual tasks which contain a disembedding aspect relate significantly to a subjects position on the field-dependence-independence continuum.

SCORES ON EMOTIONAL SELF-CONTROL OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN AFTER A FIVE-WEEK RUNNING PROGRAM

This study tested the prediction that fitness running would increase elementary school childrens emotional self-control (Grade 3, n = 26, Control, n = 25). The results were contrary to the hypothesis.