The retrograde motion of planets and children: Interpreting percentile rank

A common method used to interpret raw scores is to convert them into percentile rank. The broad application of percentile rank in almost all norm-referenced tests, and the exclusive use in some tests, requires the conversion of raw scores. Because percentile rank is not a linear transformation of raw scores, percentile-rank transformation in the lower and upper part of the raw-score distribution relates percentile rank and raw scores differently than in the center of the raw-score distribution. This paper describes the popularity of using percentile rank and offers an interpretation of the use of percentile rank with normal and skewed score distributions.     

A person-centered approach to achievement goal orientations in competitive tennis players: Associations with motivation and mental toughness

Background:Research on achievement goal orientations in sport has typically relied on the use of variable-centered approaches that tend to overlook population heterogeneity.In this study,we used a person-centered approach to identify subgroups of competitive tennis players according to unique combinations of achievement goal orientations and tested for subgroup differences in motivation and mental toughness.Methods:A sample of 323 competitive tennis athletes(69.35%male)between 15 and 25 years of age(17.60±2.40 years,mean±SD)completed the 3×2 Achievement Goal Questionnaire for Sport,Sport Motivation Scale Ⅱ,and Mental Toughness Index.Latent profile analysis was used to identify unique combinations of achievement goal orientations.Comparisons between latent subgroups on autonomous motivation,controlled motivation,and mental toughness were performed using analysis of variance.Results:Latent profile analysis supported 3 distinct patterns of achievement goal profiles that were primarily distinguishable based on valence of competence(i.e.,approach vs.avoidance).Analyses of variance indicated that athletes who were classified into subgroups that endorsed approach types of goals(regardless of the types of avoidance goals they endorsed)reported higher levels of autonomous motivation and mental toughness.Conclusion:Results indicated that athletes tend to pursue a number of achievement goals collectively rather than in isolation.Although approach goals are more commonly linked to adaptive psychological functioning and positive outcomes,avoidance goals may also be associated with desirable psychological characteristics if they are pursued in conjunction with approach types of achievement goals.     

Detecting potential hucksterism in meta-analysis using a follow-up fail-safe test

Meta-analysis is an analysis of analyses. It is a technique widely used by researchers and practitioners to aggregate and summarize statistically reported empirical educational research. In 10 years, meta-analysis appeared more than 600 times in research journals and dissertation abstracts. Although most meta-analyses were reported as significant, few of the findings determined how many unpublished “no-effect” studies, if sampled, would have invalidated significance. If significant meta-analysis results are over represented through selective sampling, hucksterism in the form of sampling bias exists. An explanation for using a follow-up test called the fail-safe N is provided with tables constructed to assist researchers and practitioners to estimate, without calculation, the relative stability of meta-analysis results. The implication is that failsafe N should routinely be used and reported in meta-analysis research.     

Sex differences in elbow and wrist joint loading during the cartwheel and round off with different hand positions performed by young gymnasts

The aim of the study was to determine if sex differences exist in the key elbow and wrist joint injury risk factors during different cartwheel (CW) and round-off (RO) techniques performed by young male and female artistic gymnasts. Sixteen active young gymnasts (8 males and 8 females) performed 30 successful trials of CW and RO with three different hand positions (parallel (10), T-shape (10) and reverse (10)). Synchronised kinematic and kinetic data were collected for each trial. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA (3 × 2, technique × sex) and effect-sizes (ES) were used for statistical analysis. In conclusion, female gymnasts exhibited greater normalised peak vertical ground reaction forces (VGRF), elbow and wrist compression forces and elbow internal adduction moments during CW and RO skills compared with male gymnasts. In both sexes, the parallel and reverse techniques increased peak VGRF, elbow and wrist compression forces and the elbow internal adduction moment. Increased elbow flexion resulted in decreased peak VGRF, elbow compression forces and elbow internal adduction moment. Injury risk factors including elbow extension and internal adduction moment with axial compression force suggest that a CW and RO in reverse and parallel techniques can be hazardous especially for young female gymnasts.     

Effects of involving conduct problem adolescents in goal setting: An exploratory investigation

Effects of involving conduct problem adolescents in goal setting were assessed. Two levels of goal setting were compared: Level 1—pupils were involved with a school counselor in goal setting as a basis for individual behavioral counseling intervention; Level 2—pupils were informed by a counselor that goals were being set, but were not involved in the goal-setting process. Four public school counselors and 16 adolescents were randomly assigned to one of the two conditions, with individual behavioral counseling being provided during a 10-week period. Results indicated greater degree of goal attainment and satisfaction with counseling for pupils who participated in goal setting.