Empirical Findings In Sports Perception

University:
California State University, Northridge
Course:
PSY 150 | Introduction to Psychology
Academic year:

2023
Views:

81

Pages:

2
Author:

Jithin J I

EMPIRICAL FINDINGS IN SPORTS PERCEPTION Part 1: Influence of Performance on Perception Dart-Throwing and Target Perception  Wesp et al. (2004) studied darts and target size perception.  They found a correlation between dart-throwing performance and the perceived size of the target.  Better performance led to the perception of a larger target. Softball and Hitting Performance  Witt and Proffitt (2005) investigated softball players.  After a game, players estimated the size of the ball they hit.  A correlation was found between hitting performance and ball size perception. Golf and Performance-Specific Effects  Witt et al. (2008) replicated similar findings in golf.  Golfers' performance correlated with their perception of the ball's size. Part 2: Factors Affecting Performance-Specific Perception Visual Attention Alignment in Golf  Cañal-Bruland et al. (2011) explored the role of visual attention alignment.  Perception effects were found only when attention aligned with the action goal.  Disruption of attention alignment led to the absence of perception-performance correlations. The Perceptual Accentuation Hypothesis  Cañal-Bruland and van der Kamp (2009) proposed the perceptual accentuation hypothesis.  It draws from Bruner's functional perception theory.  Suggests that accentuating action goal objects influences perception. Part 3: Methodological Critique and Alternative Explanations Methodological Pitfalls  Firestone and Scholl (2015) identified methodological pitfalls in the research.  Pitfall #2: Perception vs. Judgment - The difference between perceptual processes and judgment.  Pitfall #3: Demand and Response Bias - Influence of participants' understanding of the study. Part 4: Debates and Challenges Evaluating the Evidence  Firestone and Scholl (2016) argued that there's no study proving cognition influences perception.  Intense debate within behavioral and neuroscientific journals about theoretical and methodological aspects. Future Directions  Researchers must address methodological pitfalls.  Bidirectional effects between perception and performance should be explored.  Opportunities for new research directions in embodied perception and sport psychology.