PSY FPX 6820 Assessment 2 Analyzing TAIS Results

Student Name

Capella University

PSY FPX 6820 Performance Enhancement in Sports

Prof. Name:

Date

Analyzing TAIS Results

Andrew, as a team leader and quarterback, is a strong candidate for the draft. His scores on the TAIS indicate that he surpasses World Champions in areas such as external distractibility, internal distractibility, orientation toward rules and risk, self-criticism, decision-making style, and the expression of criticism and anger. However, he scores below World Champion percentiles in information processing, control, physical competitiveness, and the expression of support and affection. In the remaining categories, Andrew’s scores fall within the average range.

TAIS & Athletics

The TAIS reveals significant differences between performance enhancement issues and individuals who may require alternative psychological services. It assesses communication and concentration skills, ultimately aiming to enhance performance. Since it is challenging to evaluate every athlete in every possible scenario, no single variable in the TAIS is deemed more useful than another. The TAIS is approached not through an athlete’s ability or knowledge but through an inventory method. For example, the test seeks to understand how athletes focus and communicate with one another. By observing the characteristics athletes possess, the TAIS identifies behaviors relevant to social and athletic environments and the athletes’ awareness of those behaviors.

The 144-item questionnaire addresses aspects such as information processing, internal and external attention, overloaded attention, and various types of focus, which help identify factors that positively and negatively impact performance. Additionally, the measurements can be categorized into more specific groups, such as scanning and focusing attention. Notably, these two groups reflect a multidimensional, cognitive-like design that emphasizes attentional and interpersonal styles. These designs are crucial for high-level athletes like Andrew, who face significant pressure from their environments.

Since not all athletes are the same, the variations in the categories assessed by the test are extensive. For instance, the tool is utilized to evaluate performance in both men and women, yet males and females often concentrate on different thoughts. Nideffer (1976) noted that males tend to be more physically oriented, while females generally express more positive emotions. Additionally, occupation influences the measurements assessed. For example, when comparing white male college students to white male police officers, the latter group reported greater attentional focus and interpersonal skills. Understanding whether a specific group of police officers perceives themselves as more focused or if only individual officers hold this belief can help support predictions regarding Andrew’s concentration preferences. For instance, Andrew scored significantly higher than world champions in both internal and external distractibility. Research indicates that Andrew’s scores correlate with increased distractibility and reduced tendencies to express affection (Nideffer, 1976).

Strengths and Weaknesses

Higher scores in distractibility are often linked to anxiety and can become a performance weakness if internal or external distractibility becomes overwhelming. Individuals who are less open about their thoughts may exhibit lower scores in expressing affection. However, a notable strength of individuals with higher internal distractibility is their ability to integrate ideas effectively and analyze multiple concepts or sources of information simultaneously. Similarly, research suggests that individuals with higher external distractibility believe they can manage various external stimuli concurrently (Nideffer, 1976). While more weaknesses emerge when external distractibility becomes excessive, the internal and external distractibility scales serve as tools to measure awareness and sensitivity to surroundings, problem-solving strategies, and systems for task completion.

Priorities of Performance

All individuals possess normal attention styles and the potential to develop all four attention styles. However, normal attention can be influenced by competitive factors (Nideffer, 1990). The ability to analyze and integrate multiple ideas simultaneously can be extremely beneficial for performance. For example, if Andrew experiences narrow-internal distractibility during a football game, he may or may not feel anxious, yet he can still maintain a strong focus on his performance. Similarly, the priority of external distractibility for performance is comparable. Factors such as weather, fans, and opponents can affect a player’s ability to perform. If Andrew is not overwhelmed by external distractibility, he can effectively manage environmental factors that could negatively impact his game.

Analysis Recommendation

To provide a recommendation, professionals must analyze TAIS test results in accordance with AASP member expectations and in a consistent, scholarly manner. Andrew’s scores indicate higher levels of external and internal distractibility, suggesting that he is easily distracted from primary tasks and may struggle to maintain his train of thought, which can lead to feelings of being overwhelmed. As a quarterback, these factors are critical, as they require exceptional focus and control due to the responsibility of executing the majority of plays in the game. Additionally, Andrew’s reduced information processing scores make him more vulnerable to stress and athlete burnout.

Moreover, his tendency to be self-critical could pose a challenge if he is overly harsh on himself. Although Andrew’s physically competitive scores suggest a reluctance to engage in physical challenges, his decision-making score indicates that he is thoughtful about his choices and places significant importance on accuracy. His scores related to the expression of criticism and anger, as well as affection, present intriguing possibilities. His higher-than-average scores in criticism and anger may indicate that he is overly critical and may challenge others, which could be beneficial in his role as a leader and quarterback, as the team requires someone to motivate them. Conversely, his affection scores, while low, are not excessively so compared to world champions, suggesting that he may perform well without needing constant praise and might thrive in environments that utilize negative reinforcement, such as running penalties, rather than positive reinforcement. Furthermore, his orientation toward rules and risk is significantly higher than that of world champions, indicating that Andrew may be more inclined to take risks, act impulsively, and push boundaries (EPSystems, 1974).

Conclusion

In summary, based on the components discussed, I would recommend Andrew as a draft pick due to his considerable potential. He demonstrates promising abilities, and there are factors beyond the TAIS test that can only be understood through personal interaction. With appropriate techniques and training, I believe Andrew can address some of his challenges. If sport psychologists can comprehend the underlying reasons for the TAIS results, this understanding may further support the recommendation of Andrew as a valuable draft pick.

References

EPSystems. (1974). Tais sales report sample – Sullivan search. The Attentional & Interpersonal Style Inventory. https://sullivansearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/TAIS-Sales-Report-Sample.pdf

Nideffer, R. M. (1976). Test of attentional and interpersonal style. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 34(3), 394-404.

Nideffer, R. M. (1990). Use of the Test of Attentional and Interpersonal Style (TAIS) in sport. Human Kinetics Journals. https://journals-humankinetics-com.library.capella.edu/doi/pdf/10.1123/tsp.4.3.285