Athlete’s Level and Performance Relationship

Subject: Sports
Pages: 8
Words: 2270
Reading time:
10 min
Study level: PhD

Introduction

The purpose of this experiment is to test the relationship between an athlete’s winning percentage and the athlete’s ability to deal with pressure, focus, and their overall enjoyment of the sport. A survey was conducted by calculating 60 different athlete’s (20 high school, 20 college, and 20 pro) overall winning percentages and all athletes were made to respond to a three question survey. The questionnaire involved a Likert scale from 1(least) to 5 (most).

This report presents an analysis of the results derived from the participants’ responses. The analysis will involve an ANOVA test with post hoc Simple Linear Regression/Correlation Chi Square. The ANOVA test will identify the presence of any relationship between an athlete’s level and the 4 variables (winning percentage, pressure, focus, enjoyment). The regression/correlation analysis will investigate if there is any relationship between winning percentage and pressure, focus, or enjoyment. The strongest relationship with winning percentage will be investigated, as well as the difference in these relationships amongst the athletes.

A Chi Square test will be used to investigate the influence of an athlete’s level on the athlete’s ability to manage pressure, focus, and overall enjoyment of the sport. The analysis will be used to provide responses to the following questions:

  1. What is the main finding of the research study?
  2. Were all three statistics required to answer the study question?
  3. What is the benefit of using the three different statistics for the research?

Study Sample

The sample was comprised of sixty athletes. The participants were selected using a stratified random sampling method. The advantage of using this method was that it allowed the researcher to select the participants across the different athlete levels intended for the study (Bluman, 2012). The sample is different from the population in the sense that the population may comprise of both athletes and non-athletes in general (Lane, 2005). The sample focuses on athletes within three experience levels.

Results and Analysis

ANOVA Test

The ANOVA test was performed to identify the presence of any relationship between an athlete’s level and the 4 variables (winning percentage, pressure, focus, enjoyment).

Table 1: ANOVA Test Results.

ANOVA
Sum of Squares df Mean Square F Sig.
Performance Between Groups 2589.724 2 1294.862 12.396 .000
Within Groups 5954.340 57 104.462
Total 8544.064 59
Ability to deal with pressure Between Groups 29.100 2 14.550 15.903 .000
Within Groups 52.150 57 .915
Total 81.250 59
Ability to focus Between Groups 29.633 2 14.817 19.151 .000
Within Groups 44.100 57 .774
Total 73.733 59
Enjoyment Between Groups 12.133 2 6.067 17.247 .000
Within Groups 20.050 57 .352
Total 32.183 59

Table 2: Post-hoc Results (Tukey Test).

Multiple Comparisons
Tukey HSD
Dependent Variable (I) Group (J) Group Mean Difference (I-J) Std. Error Sig. 95% Confidence Interval
Lower Bound Upper Bound
Performance High School College -10.0065000* 3.2320597 .008 -17.784187 -2.228813
Pro -15.9180000* 3.2320597 .000 -23.695687 -8.140313
College High School 10.0065000* 3.2320597 .008 2.228813 17.784187
Pro -5.9115000 3.2320597 .169 -13.689187 1.866187
Pro High School 15.9180000* 3.2320597 .000 8.140313 23.695687
College 5.9115000 3.2320597 .169 -1.866187 13.689187
Ability to deal with pressure High School College -1.200* .302 .001 -1.93 -.47
Pro -1.650* .302 .000 -2.38 -.92
College High School 1.200* .302 .001 .47 1.93
Pro -.450 .302 .304 -1.18 .28
Pro High School 1.650* .302 .000 .92 2.38
College .450 .302 .304 -.28 1.18
Ability to focus High School College -1.250* .278 .000 -1.92 -.58
Pro -1.650* .278 .000 -2.32 -.98
College High School 1.250* .278 .000 .58 1.92
Pro -.400 .278 .328 -1.07 .27
Pro High School 1.650* .278 .000 .98 2.32
College .400 .278 .328 -.27 1.07
Enjoyment High School College -.600* .188 .006 -1.05 -.15
Pro -1.100* .188 .000 -1.55 -.65
College High School .600* .188 .006 .15 1.05
Pro -.500* .188 .027 -.95 -.05
Pro High School 1.100* .188 .000 .65 1.55
College .500* .188 .027 .05 .95
*. The mean difference is significant at the 0.05 level.
 Mean Plot – Performance per Group.
Figure 1: Mean Plot – Performance per Group.
Mean Plot –Ability to Deal with Pressure per Group.
Figure 2: Mean Plot –Ability to Deal with Pressure per Group.
Mean Plot – Ability to Focus per Group.
Figure 3: Mean Plot – Ability to Focus per Group.
Mean Plot – Enjoyment per Group.
Figure 4: Mean Plot – Enjoyment per Group.

Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 present the plots of the means for each group against the four variables. It is easy to observe from the plot pro athletes score highest for each variable mean scores, followed by college athletes, and high school athletes. The plots indicate that the group has an influence on all the variables.

Regression/ Correlation Analysis

The regression/correlation analysis investigated the relationship between winning percentage and pressure, focus, or enjoyment. The strongest relationship with winning percentage was also investigated, as well as the difference in these relationships amongst the athletes. The table below is a summary of the data collected the regression analysis. The data were used to plot three scatter plot graphs.

Table 3: Summary of Data for Regression Analysis.

Performance Ability to deal with pressure Ability to focus Enjoyment
63.33 2 2 3
68.32 3 2 3
86.66 1 2 4
52.82 3 4 3
75.01 2 1 4
57.99 4 3 3
69.48 3 3 4
32.68 2 2 1
60.88 1 1 3
58.24 2 3 3
45.54 1 1 2
44.92 2 2 2
67.04 3 3 3
62.99 4 4 3
66.63 3 2 3
65.67 2 2 3
59.5 2 2 3
85.6 1 2 4
64.66 1 2 3
83.74 4 3 4
72.85 4 3 4
88.17 3 4 4
80.82 3 5 4
71.27 4 4 4
82 2 3 4
48.47 4 3 2
80.1 5 4 4
81.38 5 5 4
82.96 2 3 4
75.98 3 3 4
77.35 4 4 4
69.31 2 2 3
61.69 5 5 3
64.87 4 3 3
75.43 4 4 4
59.83 3 3 3
89.65 4 4 4
59.1 2 2 3
76.14 4 4 4
74.46 3 3 4
82.33 5 5 4
89.69 4 4 5
82.01 3 3 4
86.03 4 4 5
74.14 3 3 4
75.93 5 4 4
74.74 5 5 4
81.13 4 3 4
76.36 5 5 4
82.43 4 4 4
84.32 3 4 5
81.66 3 4 4
71.77 3 2 4
81.04 4 3 4
78.67 5 5 4
74.86 3 4 4
77.45 4 4 4
80.4 5 5 4
73.72 4 5 4
81.38 3 3 4
Regression/Correlation Analysis of Performance and Ability to deal with Pressure.
Figure1: Regression/Correlation Analysis of Performance and Ability to deal with Pressure.

The chart above is a scatter plot illustrating the correlation between athletes’ performances and their ability to deal with pressure. There seems to be some form of relationship between the two variables. It can be seen that the higher an athlete’s performance, the better the athlete’s ability to deal with pressure. However, it is easy to observe that some of the points in the scatter plot do not follow this pattern. This is an indication that even though performance is related with an athlete’s ability to deal with pressure, the relationship may not be significant (Leedy, Ormond, & Silverman, 2012).

Regression/Correlation Analysis of Performance and Ability to Focus.
Figure2: Regression/Correlation Analysis of Performance and Ability to Focus.

The scatter plot above is an illustration of the correlation between athlete’s performance and the ability to focus. There is obviously a relationship between the two variables. It may be observed that the higher an athlete’s performance, the better the athlete’s ability to focus. Even though there are some points that do not follow the trend, these points are less than the outlying points observed in Figure 1. This is an indication that the relationship between athletes’ performance and their ability to focus is significant. Therefore, athletes will perform better if they develop their ability to focus.

Regression/Correlation Analysis of Performance and Enjoyment
Figure3: Regression/Correlation Analysis of Performance and Enjoyment.

The scatter plot above is an illustration of the correlation between athletes’ performances and the way they enjoy the game. The scatter plot presents a clear indication of the relationship between athletes’ performances and the way they enjoy the sports. The trend is very clear and shows that the performance of an athlete is proportional to the way the athlete enjoys the game. It is very clear that the higher an athlete’s performance, the better more the athlete enjoys the game. All the points in the scatter plot follow a specific trend and the illustration shows a linear correction between the athletes’ performances and enjoyment. It can be concluded that there is a significant positive relationship between athletes’ performances and the way they enjoy a sport. Therefore, athletes will perform better if they enjoy the sports.

Chi-Square Test

A Chi Square test will be used to investigate the influence of an athlete’s level on the athlete’s ability to manage pressure, focus, and overall enjoyment of the sport (Thomas, Nelson & Silverman, 2011). The Chi Square can be used to test this relationship because the variables are categorical and consist of more than one independent group (pro, college and high school) (Jaynes, 2007). The current variables fulfill these two assumptions and this makes the Chi Square test applicable. The following tables are the results of the Chi-Square test.

Group * Ability to deal with pressure.

Crosstab
Ability to deal with pressure Total
1.0000 2.0000 3.0000 4.0000 5.0000
Group High School Count 5 7 5 3 0 20
% within Group 25.0% 35.0% 25.0% 15.0% 0.0% 100.0%
% within Ability to deal with pressure 100.0% 63.6% 29.4% 16.7% 0.0% 33.3%
% of Total 8.3% 11.7% 8.3% 5.0% 0.0% 33.3%
College Count 0 4 5 8 3 20
% within Group 0.0% 20.0% 25.0% 40.0% 15.0% 100.0%
% within Ability to deal with pressure 0.0% 36.4% 29.4% 44.4% 33.3% 33.3%
% of Total 0.0% 6.7% 8.3% 13.3% 5.0% 33.3%
Pro Count 0 0 7 7 6 20
% within Group 0.0% 0.0% 35.0% 35.0% 30.0% 100.0%
% within Ability to deal with pressure 0.0% 0.0% 41.2% 38.9% 66.7% 33.3%
% of Total 0.0% 0.0% 11.7% 11.7% 10.0% 33.3%
Total Count 5 11 17 18 9 60
% within Group 8.3% 18.3% 28.3% 30.0% 15.0% 100.0%
% within Ability to deal with pressure 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
% of Total 8.3% 18.3% 28.3% 30.0% 15.0% 100.0%

The table above shows that pros have the highest ability to deal with pressure, followed by college athletes, and finally high school athletes.

Chi-Square Tests
Value df Asymp. Sig. (2-sided)
Pearson Chi-Square 25.531a 8 .001
Likelihood Ratio 32.110 8 .000
Linear-by-Linear Association 19.770 1 .000
N of Valid Cases 60
a. 9 cells (60.0%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is 1.67.

The X2 = 25.531 and P = 0.001. This indicates that there is a statistically significant relationship between group and ability to deal with pressure (Kline, 2004).

Group * Ability to focus.

Crosstab
Ability to focus Total
1.0000 2.0000 3.0000 4.0000 5.0000
Group High School Count 3 10 5 2 0 20
% within Group 15.0% 50.0% 25.0% 10.0% 0.0% 100.0%
% within Ability to focus 100.0% 76.9% 27.8% 11.8% 0.0% 33.3%
% of Total 5.0% 16.7% 8.3% 3.3% 0.0% 33.3%
College Count 0 2 8 7 3 20
% within Group 0.0% 10.0% 40.0% 35.0% 15.0% 100.0%
% within Ability to focus 0.0% 15.4% 44.4% 41.2% 33.3% 33.3%
% of Total 0.0% 3.3% 13.3% 11.7% 5.0% 33.3%
Pro Count 0 1 5 8 6 20
% within Group 0.0% 5.0% 25.0% 40.0% 30.0% 100.0%
% within Ability to focus 0.0% 7.7% 27.8% 47.1% 66.7% 33.3%
% of Total 0.0% 1.7% 8.3% 13.3% 10.0% 33.3%
Total Count 3 13 18 17 9 60
% within Group 5.0% 21.7% 30.0% 28.3% 15.0% 100.0%
% within Ability to focus 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
% of Total 5.0% 21.7% 30.0% 28.3% 15.0% 100.0%

The results are similar to the previous crosstabs table.

Chi-Square Tests
Value df Asymp. Sig. (2-sided)
Pearson Chi-Square 27.878a 8 .000
Likelihood Ratio 30.875 8 .000
Linear-by-Linear Association 21.785 1 .000
N of Valid Cases 60
a. 9 cells (60.0%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is 1.00.

There is a statistically significant association between the variables.

Group * Enjoyment.

Crosstab
Enjoyment Total
1.0000 2.0000 3.0000 4.0000 5.0000
Group High School Count 1 2 12 5 0 20
% within Group 5.0% 10.0% 60.0% 25.0% 0.0% 100.0%
% within Enjoyment 100.0% 66.7% 70.6% 13.9% 0.0% 33.3%
% of Total 1.7% 3.3% 20.0% 8.3% 0.0% 33.3%
College Count 0 1 5 14 0 20
% within Group 0.0% 5.0% 25.0% 70.0% 0.0% 100.0%
% within Enjoyment 0.0% 33.3% 29.4% 38.9% 0.0% 33.3%
% of Total 0.0% 1.7% 8.3% 23.3% 0.0% 33.3%
Pro Count 0 0 0 17 3 20
% within Group 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 85.0% 15.0% 100.0%
% within Enjoyment 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 47.2% 100.0% 33.3%
% of Total 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 28.3% 5.0% 33.3%
Total Count 1 3 17 36 3 60
% within Group 1.7% 5.0% 28.3% 60.0% 5.0% 100.0%
% within Enjoyment 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
% of Total 1.7% 5.0% 28.3% 60.0% 5.0% 100.0%

The results are similar to the previous crosstabs results.

Chi-Square Tests
Value df Asymp. Sig. (2-sided)
Pearson Chi-Square 29.324a 8 .000
Likelihood Ratio 35.721 8 .000
Linear-by-Linear Association 22.182 1 .000
N of Valid Cases 60
a. 9 cells (60.0%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is.33.

There is a statistically significant relationship between the variables.

Conclusion

The main finding of the research is that an athlete’s level affects the athletes’ performance. Not all the three statistical tests performed were required to draw this conclusion. The Chi Square test and the correlation/regression tests would have provided sufficient evidence regarding the influence of athletes’ levels on their performance.

References

Bluman, A. G. (2012), Elementary statistics: A step by step approach. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

Jaynes, E.T. (2007). Probability theory: the logic of science. Cambridge: Cambridge Univeristy Press

Kline, R. (2004). Beyond significance testing: Reforming data analysis methods in behavioral research. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association

Lane, D. M. (2005). HyperStat online statistics textbook. Web.

Leedy, P., Ormond, J. E., & Silverman, S. J. (2012). Practical research: Planning and design. Columbus, OH: Merrill-Prentice Hall.

Thomas, J. R., Nelson, J. K., & Silverman, S. (2011). Research methods in physical activity. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.