Sports Psychology Exam 1 UPDATED
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Define psychology. What are the four primary objectives? - CORRECT ANSWER The
scientific study of behavior and experience. The four primary objectives is to Describe,
Explain, Predict and Control.
Define sport psychology. What are the two primary objectives? Be able to generate research
questions that are based on each objective. - CORRECT ANSWER The scientific study
of behavior and experience in a physical activity setting. The two primary objectives are: 1)
Thoughts, feelings & behavior 2) Participation
Norman Triplett - CORRECT ANSWER A psychologist from Indiana University and a
bicycle racing enthusiast, conducts the first social psychology and sport psychology
experiment, studying the effects of others on cyclists performance. He wanted to understand
why cyclists sometimes rode faster when they raced in groups or pairs than when they rode
alone. When put in front of the audience, some scores improved, some got worse, and some
remained. If the task is easy or well learned, scores will most likely improve. If the task is
complex or the performer is inexperienced, the score would usually decrease. Social
facilitation theory suggest that you usually do better with people if the task is simple, but if
the task or the skills is complex, you increase the pressure in the crowd and the person is
more likely to perform worse.
Coleman Griffith - CORRECT ANSWER Regarded as the Father of American Sport
Psychology. He was a psychologist at the University of Illinois, developed the first laboratory
in sport psychology, helped initiate one of the first coaching schools in America, and wrote
two classic books. He also conducted series of studies on the Chicago Cubs and other
legendary teams and players. The problem with Coelman was that he never trained anybody.
He never showed anybody the test he did so all his work just died.
Franklin Henry - CORRECT ANSWER Developed first physical education program
with emphasis on the psychology of physical therapy. Trained many students that went on to
become prominent academics, which shaped Kinesiology into what it is today.
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Define psychology. What are the four primary objectives? - CORRECT ANSWER The
scientific study of behavior and experience. The four primary objectives is to Describe,
Explain, Predict and Control.
Define sport psychology. What are the two primary objectives? Be able to generate research
questions that are based on each objective. - CORRECT ANSWER The scientific study
of behavior and experience in a physical activity setting. The two primary objectives are: 1)
Thoughts, feelings & behavior 2) Participation
Norman Triplett - CORRECT ANSWER A psychologist from Indiana University and a
bicycle racing enthusiast, conducts the first social psychology and sport psychology
experiment, studying the effects of others on cyclists performance. He wanted to understand
why cyclists sometimes rode faster when they raced in groups or pairs than when they rode
alone. When put in front of the audience, some scores improved, some got worse, and some
remained. If the task is easy or well learned, scores will most likely improve. If the task is
complex or the performer is inexperienced, the score would usually decrease. Social
facilitation theory suggest that you usually do better with people if the task is simple, but if
the task or the skills is complex, you increase the pressure in the crowd and the person is
more likely to perform worse.
Coleman Griffith - CORRECT ANSWER Regarded as the Father of American Sport
Psychology. He was a psychologist at the University of Illinois, developed the first laboratory
in sport psychology, helped initiate one of the first coaching schools in America, and wrote
two classic books. He also conducted series of studies on the Chicago Cubs and other
legendary teams and players. The problem with Coelman was that he never trained anybody.
He never showed anybody the test he did so all his work just died.
Franklin Henry - CORRECT ANSWER Developed first physical education program
with emphasis on the psychology of physical therapy. Trained many students that went on to
become prominent academics, which shaped Kinesiology into what it is today.
