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Biomedical subjects

B S Rushall

Publications and source records attributed to B S Rushall.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1989

Effects of thought content instructions on swimming performance.

The effects of instructions to use three different types of thought patterns on the practice performance of superior age-group swimmers were assessed. Two different swimming tasks, two 40 degrees m effort swims and a set of eight 100 m repeats, were used. A balanced design allowed the comparison of the totals of treatment and control (normal thinking) conditions. All Ss improved in at least two of the three conditions. All manipulations were significant at the 0.05 level. Group averages indicated that task-relevant content was the most effective condition, followed by mood works, and positive thinking. The importance of using thought content instructions for improving performance was supported by this investigation.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗
PubMed1985

Athletes' assessment of the coach--the coach evaluation questionnaire.

The purpose of this study was to provide an assessment tool to judge coaching performance that was appropriate for completion by athletes. The questionnaire underwent a variety of developmental stages. In its final form, it contained 36 items. The tool was shown to be a valid, reliable, and standardized questionnaire. It demonstrated discriminability and provoked honest, accurate responding in subjects. The test was capable of providing immediate feedback to coaches seeking information about athletes' perceptions of their coaching performance. Responses on the developed scale were weighted to reflect the desirability of the coaching characteristics of a good coach. The questionnaire provides a total score which can be interpreted by the coach as a measure of how much of an "ideal" coach exists in him/her.

Attitude↗
PubMed1982

Objective and self-perceived performance adequacies in collegiate basketball players.

A self-perceived and objective measure of performance adequacy were assessed in 11 male collegiate basketball players. Minor significant relationships between the rating methods were found in only four players. The two procedures indicated that they were primarily measuring two different structures. The conclusion was made that an athlete's perception of his/her performance adequacy was likely to be different to that indicated by an objective performance measure or a coach's perceptions. Implications for coaching and future research were indicated.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

An approach-avoidance motivations scale for sports.

The purpose of this study was to construct a motivations scale for sports based on Nygard and Gjesme's Achievement Motives Scale. A test-retest reliability assessment was conducted on an original 36 item pool. Twenty-eight items were interpreted similarly in excess of 64% of test cases. Content validity and objectivity assessments retained the 28 items in the final versions of the questionnaire. The scale was intended for use in athletic environments for the purpose of measuring levels of motivation to approach success and motivation to avoid failure in training, competition, and the general sporting activity. Standardized administration procedures were developed to be followed when using the tool. An evaluation of the usefulness of the scale was provided. Male (N = 90) and female (N = 86) swimmers at the 1977 Canadian Winter Swimming Championships were compared on the basis of the relationship between approach-avoidance factors and a competition performance index. The related factors were totally different between the groups. A suggestion was made that the aspects of achievement motivation assessed by the tool provided different interpretations of the sporting experience for male and female swimmers. The developed scale was reliable, valid, objective, standardized and useful.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Hematological responses to training in elite swimmers.

Hemoglobin (HB) and hematocrit (Hct) measurements were obtained in two studies of elite swimmers. A case-study analysis indicated that Hb values decrease during hard training and increase again during the reduced workload of tapering. Sub-normal Hb values occurred during hard training in most athletes. Hematological responses were idiosyncratic and required individual monitoring and assessment during training. Hb was found to be a more sensitive measure of training than Hct. Data of this investigation suggested that the coaching of a composite national team in a training of a familiar club membership.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Behaviour variables in superior swimmers.

This study investigated relationships between behavioural responses on the Psychological Inventories for Competitive Swimmers and selected performance classifications and characteristics of male (N = 91) and female (N = 85) swimmers at the 1977 Canadian Winter National Swimming Championships. Responses were divided into four groups representing social, attitudinal, and activity behaviour and motivational events. These responses were compared on the basis of sex, age, years of participation in serious swimming, past performance achievement categories, current performance achievement categories, and performance improvement. Swimmers appeared to differ in their behavioural responses across the dimensions of sex, years of participation, and performance time improvement or non-improvement.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

The prediction of swimming performance from behavioral information: a further note.

A recommendation has been made that performance predictions may have to be restricted to matched groups of athletes competing in similar competitive environments. This study assessed that statement for the sport of swimming. A 13 item discriminant function derived from the 1976 Canadian Team was applied to the 1978 Canadian Teams to predict those who would and would not improve over their entry times in the Commonwealth Games competitions. The predictions were no better than chance. The possibility of predicitng swimming performances from data obtained on a similar team does not appear to be feasible.

Behavior↗
PubMed1979

The prediction of swimming performance in competition from behavioral information.

The swimming performances of the Canadian Team at the 1976 Olympic Games were categorized as being improved or worse than previous best times in the events contested. The two groups had been previously assessed on the Psychological Inventories for Competitive Swimmers. A stepwise multiple-discriminant analysis of the inventory responses revealed that 13 test questions produced a perfect discrimination of group membership. The resultant discriminant functions for predicting performance classification were applied to the test responses of 157 swimmers at the 1977 Canadian Winter National Swimming Championships. Using the same performance classification criteria the accuracy of prediction was not better than chance in three of four sex by performance classifications. This yielded a failure to locate a set of behavioral factors which determine swimming performance improvements in elite competitive circumstances. The possibility of sets of factors which do not discriminate between performances in similar environments or between similar groups of swimmers was raised.

Behavior↗
PubMed1974

Effects of self-recording on attendance and performance in a competitive swimming training environment.

Swimmers' attendance at training and work rates were described by their coaches as being poor and irregular. Reinforcement contingencies were developed to remedy these unsatisfactory conditions. Two experiments were conducted. A multiple baseline design verified the effects of publicly marking attendance at practice as a sufficient solution for reducing absenteeism, tardiness, and leaving early. Follow-up analyses showed this contingency to have lasting effects. In the second experiment, a reversal design was used to assess the effects of employing program boards as a means of increasing work output during practice. Work rates in eight selected swimmers were elevated by an average of 27.1% when the boards were instituted. Follow-up evaluations showed that the use of the program boards had lasting effects. Publicly checking the completion of each training unit of work changed the nature of the swimming environment to produce a more productive use of time. The role of the coach was subsequently changed as less time was spent in directing and supervising behaviors.

Absenteeism↗