Evidence for the importance of openness to experience on performance of a fluid intelligence task by physically active and inactive participants

The cross-sectional relationship between exercise training history and performance on a fluid intelligence test was examined. In addition, openness to experience was included as a potential trait-based contributor to predicting cognitive performance. Results supported past literature demonstrating that aerobically trained or active participants performed significantly better on the fluid intelligence task than aerobically untrained or inactive participants. Hierarchical regression analysis results revealed, as predicted, that openness to experience was a significant predictor of fluid intellectual performance. When entered into the hierarchical regression equation, openness to experience accounted for 16.0% of unique variance in Culture Fair Intelligence Test performance. By contrast, participants' exercise training history, which initially and significantly (p < .05) accounted for approximately 12.0% of the variance in cognitive performance, accounted for 5.0% (p > .05) after openness was entered. Participants were, on average, more open than inactive participants. Results are discussed in terms of the possible mechanisms aerobic exercise training and openness to experience share in regard to brain functioning and performance of fluid intelligence tasks. Future research is suggested that examines biological factors known to influence cognitive performance in exercise settings.     

Monitoring meaningful rugby ratings

The performance of individual rugby players can be quantified using multivariate analysis and modified control chart methodology. Using factor analysis, multivariate data are reduced to five orthogonal factors (key performance indicators). These factors are reduced to a single measure of performance by modifying control chart ideology. By comparing the observed peformances with 'unattainable perfection' rather than the average, a statistic that is suitable for monitoring the performance of individual rugby players with control charts is obtained for use by coaches and selectors.