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The value of traits in sport

  • Chapter
Individual Differences in Movement

Abstract

The abundance of studies performed in sport psychology research bears witness to the appeal of the topic. On closer examination, however, it becomes obvious that its appearance is distorted by a profusion of incoherent and undifferentiated results. Consequently, a schism between the advocates and opponents of trait theory has arisen which resembles that observed between personality theorists and experimental psychologists1. A large part of the literature on personality and sport is characterized by studies of an ‘unacceptably low scientific standard’2. The deficiencies include secondary source errors, failure to consider response distortion, inferior statistical analysis, implementation of diverse (often unreliable) measuring instruments, neglect of moderator variables, lack of operationalization of concepts and atheoretical enquiry.

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Authors
  1. Bruce D. Kirkcaldy
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Rehabilitation Clinic, University of Cologne, Lindenburger Allee 44, 5000, Cologne, 41-Lindenthal, West Germany

    Bruce D. Kirkcaldy

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© 1985 MTP Press Limited

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Kirkcaldy, B.D. (1985). The value of traits in sport. In: Kirkcaldy, B.D. (eds) Individual Differences in Movement. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4912-6_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4912-6_13

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-8676-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-4912-6

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