Masculinity in Singapore: the residual culture of the Chinese martial artist

The study set out to understand the complex landscape of masculinities in Singapore. In particular, it sought to investigate whether, apart from the common muscular and powerful dominant form, there are traditional views of masculinity sustained by Chinese cultural influence, in particular, the culture of Chinese martial arts. Open-ended survey responses from 48 male and female Singaporean first and second year undergraduate students on a sport and critical thinking course were elicited and then followed up by focused online asynchronous discussions to further elaborate understandings. Informants reflected on elements that construct masculinity in Chinese martial arts and how these may differ to what they consider to be the dominant or hegemonic masculinity, related in particular to the body builder. Responses indicate that a residual culture persists nourished by traditional Chinese culture and that this is quite different to the contemporary male identities of metrosexuals and spornosexuals revered in the West.     

An occlusion paradigm to assess the importance of the timing of the quiet eye fixation

Abstract

The aim of the study was to explore the significance of the ‘timing’ of the quiet eye (QE), and the relative importance of late (online control) or early (pre-programming) visual information for accuracy. Twenty-seven skilled golfers completed a putting task using an occlusion paradigm with three conditions: early (prior to backswing), late (during putter stroke), and no (control) occlusion of vision. Performance, QE, and kinematic variables relating to the swing were measured. Results revealed that providing only early visual information (occluding late visual information) had a significant detrimental effect on performance and kinematic measures, compared to the control condition (no occlusion), despite QE durations being maintained. Conversely, providing only late visual information (occluding early visual information) was not significantly detrimental to performance or kinematics, with results similar to those in the control condition. These findings imply that the visual information extracted during movement execution – the late proportion of the QE – is critical when golf putting. The results challenge the predominant view that the QE serves only a pre-programming function. We propose that the different proportions of the QE (before and during movement) may serve different functions in supporting accuracy in golf putting.     

Performing under pressure: Exploring the psychological state underlying clutch performance in sport

Clutch performance is improved performance under pressure. However, little research has examined the psychological state experienced by athletes in these situations. Therefore, this study qualitatively examined the subjective experience underlying clutch performance across a range of sports (e.g., team, individual) and standards (Olympic to recreational athletes). Sixteen athletes (M_age = 27.08 years; SD = 6.48) took part in in-depth, semi-structured interviews primarily after an exceptional performance (M = 4.38 days later; SD = 3.14). Data were analysed inductively and thematically. Clutch states involved 12 characteristics, including heightened and deliberate concentration, intense effort, and heightened awareness, which distinguished the experience of clutch from other optimal psychological states such as flow. Other characteristics, such as perceptions of control, were also reported and supported previous experimental research on clutch. These findings present in-depth qualitative insights into the psychological state underlying clutch performance, and are discussed in relation to the existing literature on optimal psychological states in sport.     

The role of effort in moderating the anxiety-performance relationship: Testing the prediction of processing efficiency theory in simulated rally driving

We tested some of the key predictions of processing efficiency theory using a simulated rally driving task. Two groups of participants were classified as either dispositionally high or low anxious based on trait anxiety scores and trained on a simulated driving task. Participants then raced individually on two similar courses under counterbalanced experimental conditions designed to manipulate the level of anxiety experienced. The effort exerted on the driving tasks was assessed though self-report (RSME), psychophysiological measures (pupil dilation) and visual gaze data. Efficiency was measured in terms of efficiency of visual processing (search rate) and driving control (variability of wheel and accelerator pedal) indices. Driving performance was measured as the time taken to complete the course. As predicted, increased anxiety had a negative effect on processing efficiency as indexed by the self-report, pupillary response and variability of gaze data. Predicted differences due to dispositional levels of anxiety were also found in the driving control and effort data. Although both groups of drivers performed worse under the threatening condition, the performance of the high trait anxious individuals was affected to a greater extent by the anxiety manipulation than the performance of the low trait anxious drivers. The findings suggest that processing efficiency theory holds promise as a theoretical framework for examining the relationship between anxiety and performance in sport.     

Extending validity evidence for multidimensional measures of coaching competency

This study extended validity evidence for multidimensional measures of coaching competency derived from the Coaching Competency Scale (CCS; Myers, Feltz, Maier, Wolfe, & Reckase, 2006) by examining use of the original rating scale structure and testing how measures related to satisfaction with the head coach within teams and between teams. Motivation, game strategy, technique, and character building comprised the dimensions of coaching competency. Data were collected from athletes (N = 585) nested within intercollegiate men's (g = 8) and women's (g = 13) soccer and women's ice hockey (g = 11) teams (G = 32). Validity concerns were observed for the original rating scale structure and the predicted positive relationship between motivation competency and satisfaction with the coach between teams. Validity evidence was offered for a condensed post hoc rating scale and the predicted relationship between motivation competency and satisfaction with the coach within teams.     

网球运动中的科技产品

科技能帮助运动员迅速提升训练水平.在网球运动中.教练员和相关工作人员(医务、力量师、体能师和理疗师)将一些新技术运用于训练、测试和监测中,优化运动员技术,降低运动损伤的发生.心率表、3D加速计、水合测试设备和雷达枪是网球运动员训练和监控的主要设备.     

Motivational orientations,views about the purpose of education,and intellectual styles

College students' motivational orientations toward learning and their views concerning the purpose of education were examined in relation to various intellectual styles. Task orientation (wherein one's goal is to increase understanding or mastery) was found to be positively associated with Tolerance for Ambiguity, Thoughtfulness, and Open-Mindedness. Ego orientation (wherein one's goal is to outperform others) was negatively associated with Tolerance for Ambiguity, Thoughtfulness, Complexity, and Individualism. Moreover, the views that school's purpose should be to promote understanding and achievement motivation tended to be positively associated with these traits, but the view that school should promote one's wealth and status was not associated with these traits.     

The question of the comparability of the WISC and WISC-R: Review of the research and implications for school psychologists

The paper reviews WISC/WISC-R comparison studies which have been conducted with a wide variety of samples. Significant WISC/WISC-R IQ score differences have been reported with the WISC-R yielding consistently lower scores of approximately 5-8 IQ points for the three major scales. Several studies do report variable WISC/WISC-R differences for various ages, races, and ability levels. These results have implications for practicing school psychologists. Caution is advised in the interpretation of a WISC/WISC-R difference, as a discrepancy of one SD may not be meaningful. Many students who scored in the borderline classification range on the WISC and who are currently being readministered the WISC-R are scoring in the mentally impaired classification range. This does not necessarily reflect negatively on the validity of the WISC-R, but does document the need to keep intelligence tests up to date. There is a continuing need to exercise caution in the use of individual intelligence tests and to utilize data in addition to WISC-R scores in order to make special education placement decisions.