PSY FPX 8841 Assessment 3 Individual Performance Enhancement Plan

Student Name

Capella University

PSY FPX 8841 Performance Enhancement in Sports

Prof. Name:

Date

Abstract

Professional sports teams invest considerable resources, including money, time, and effort, into scouting and selecting athletes deemed suitable for their roster. Various tools are employed to analyze the mental, physical, and emotional attributes of athletes, and the comparative results are used for further evaluation. This paper examines the findings of a TAIS Inventory report on an athlete being considered for drafting by team leadership. It will further analyze specific subcategories of the report, such as awareness, different categories of distractibility, and aspects of self-recognition. Testing levels will be compared against world champion statistics, with explanations provided for the subsequent results.

An Athlete Recommendation Via TAIS Results

The Attentional and Interpersonal Style (TAIS) Inventory is a self-report questionnaire consisting of 144 items that measures 20 distinct concentration skills and personal and interpersonal attributes (Nideffer, 1990). This assessment tool enables researchers and sports analysts to explore the psychological profiles of athletes, potentially forecasting their potential for elite or champion-level performance. While some researchers and psychologists argue that the theoretical foundation for this inventory is insufficient, others contend that there is a significant connection between cognitive processes, emotional arousal, and competitive performance (Nideffer, 1990).

The TAIS Inventory

Distractibility, whether internal or external, and awareness are two critical areas of the TAIS that can either benefit or hinder professional and elite athletes (Vealy et al., 2017). The internal and external distractibility components of the TAIS assess how easily an individual can be distracted by internal emotional factors, such as irrelevant thoughts or feelings, or external factors, such as noise or verbal and physical interruptions. Regarding awareness, this inventory measures an individual’s ability to perceive “street sense” factors within their environment and interpret non-verbal emotional cues. Additionally, the awareness component considers an individual’s tolerance for engaging in repetitive behaviors and their attention to detail within their specific sport.

The TAIS Inventory assessment also includes other components, such as measuring one’s expression (intellectual, negative, or positive), levels of introversion or extroversion, and analytical attention, including information processing speed and performance under pressure. These factors help future employers identify the best candidates for roles, both on and off the field. Professional sports teams consider all aspects of the TAIS Inventory but aim to avoid overemphasizing any single area. The ultimate goal is to find a well-rounded candidate capable of achieving success.

Analyzation of Andrew Athlete’s Results

The TAIS Inventory performance scale utilized by Andrew Athlete presents results as percentiles ranging from 0.1 to 99.9, compared to a standard group norm. Additionally, the scores are compared to those of world champion athletes. The average norm for participants in the TAIS Inventory is set at 50. Upon analyzing Andrew’s TAIS Inventory scores, several components stand out. First, it is essential to examine the elements that contribute to drive and confidence, such as control, self-confidence, and self-criticism. Andrew’s self-confidence score is notably low at 23%, while his self-critical score is alarmingly high at 98%. These extremes are detrimental to an athlete’s performance, placing him well below the average norm of 50 and the World Champion Range (WCR).

Furthermore, Andrew’s high self-critical score raises concerns about his ability to improve his confidence. Research indicates that elite professional athletes typically maintain a balanced level of self-criticism (Vealy et al., 2017). Another critical aspect of Andrew’s TAIS Inventory is the distractibility scores. His internal distractibility level is at 82%, which exceeds the WCR negatively. Additionally, his external distractibility score is also 82%, surpassing the WCR, with both distractibility factors exceeding the average norm by over 30%. These results would be concerning for any professional team considering Andrew for their roster. The distractibility issues align closely with his challenges regarding self-confidence and self-criticism.

Further analysis of Andrew’s report reveals that his physical competitiveness score of 39% is below the average norm and significantly lower than the minimum competitive range of 61% within the WCR.This raises concerns, particularly when considering the expression of criticism and anger component. Andrew scored 94% in this area, which may lead athletic evaluators to conclude that he struggles to accept criticism regarding his performance or thought processes, potentially resulting in extremely aggressive reactions (Vallerand, 2003). While there are several aspects that may serve as red flags for athletic observers, the components related to orientation towards others, as well as signs of introversion and extroversion, indicate that Andrew’s results are relatively balanced compared to the average norm and elite athletes. His introversion score of 44% and extroversion score of 54% align closely with the profiles of most athletes at the World Champion Range (WCR) level. This balance suggests to evaluators that he is capable of learning strategies and skills at an elite level, as he aims to please without coming across as overbearing (Vallerand, 2003).

Conclusion

In summary, Andrew Athlete possesses competitive skills and a personality that is likely to be well-received by others. However, regarding his competitiveness, I would not recommend Andrew for selection by leadership for the upcoming season. The results from his TAIS Inventory indicate that he is not prepared for the professional realm of athletics. There are significant gaps in his critical-thinking skills that do not align with his intellectual capabilities, as well as deficiencies in his coping skills.

References

Jago, A., & Pain, M. (1998). Creating interventions for athletes based on TAIS and PDS scores. Journal of Sports Psychology, 25(3), 30-39.

Nideffer, R.M. (1990). Use of the test of attentional and interpersonal style (TAIS) in sport. The Sport Psychologist, 4(3), 285-300.

Nideffer, R. (2007). The attention and interpersonal style (TAIS) inventory. Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Multi-Health Systems, Inc.

Vallerand, R. (2003). Attention and decision making: A test of the predictive validity of the test of attention and interpersonal style (TAIS) in a sports setting. Journal of Sports and Exercise Psychology, 5(4), 449-459.