Sports Psychology Exam Questions With
Correct Answers
How does intrinsic motivation differ from extrinsic motivation? - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔-- Intrinsic from within.
- Extrinsic from outside.
Explain why intrinsic motivation is thought to be a better form of motivation than
extrinsic motivation. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-- Intrinsic motivation gives
performer sense of control over performance.
- Excessive extrinsic may reduce/lead to loss of intrinsic motivation/play for prize
not love of game.
- Performers demand increasing extrinsic rewards/some
rewards/unimportant/lose their value.
- Failure to achieve extrinsic reward may lead to loss of intrinsic motivation/if no
reward = give up.
- Extrinsic motivation controls or manipulates behaviour/overly reliant/excessive
need for extrinsic - too much pressure/win at all costs/leads to cheating.
Suggest three strategies a coach could use to eliminate aggressive behaviour. -
CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-- Punish aggressive acts/fine player.
- Promote fair play.
- Remove from situation/change position/substitution.
- Encourage peer support.
- Set performance goals.
,- Highlight non-aggressive/positive role models.
- Reduce importance of event.
- Stress management techniques.
- Rewards.
- Develop fitness levels.
Describe the three names components of the triadic model. - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔-1. Cognitive - What you believe to be true.
2. Affective - Your feelings or emotional response.
3. Behavioural - Your intended behaviour dependent on your attitude.
Explain the differences between the terms social inhibition and evaluation
apprehension. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-Social Inhibition: The negative influence of
others on performance who are present at the time.
Evaluation Apprehension: The negative influence of others if the performer feels
they are being judged.
Explain how the interactionist theories of personality enable us to predict the
behaviour of performers. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-- Behaviour is a function of
personality and environment / B=f(PxE)
- Leads to stable behaviour in a certain situation.
- Hence able to predict behaviour when performing.
- Change environment change behaviour.
,Explain the concept of 'social facilitation' and how it can affect performance. -
CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-- Social facilitation is the influence of presence of others
on performance/presence of others increases arousal.
- Social inhibition - Negative effect of audience on performance.
- Audience - those watching.
- Co-Actors - Performing same task but not in competition.
- Competitive co-actors - In direct competition.
- Social reinforcers - direct influence e.g. coach.
- Linked to drive theory.
- Increasing arousal leads to dominant response.
- Experienced performer better - simple tasks.
- Novices perform worse - complex skills.
- Evaluation apprehension - influence greater if being judged.
- Baron's Distraction-conflict theory - need to focus on task and ignore audience
Identify the benefits of Goal Setting. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-1. Improved
confidence/self-efficacy.
2. Increased motivation/drive.
3. Prevents learning plateau.
4. Task persistence/push themselves.
5. Reduced anxiety/stress/more relaxed.
6. Focuses attention/concentration/improved selective attention.
, Explain why a coach would use performance goals and outcome goals for a
performer. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-Performance Goals:
- Improve personal standards / personal best.
- To avoid comparisons with others.
Outcome Goals:
- To achieve a better result (win a game, finish in a certain position.)
Identify and explain the different types of goals that a coach could use to motivate
performers. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-1. SMART Goals
- Specific / measurable / accepted / realistic / time phased / exciting / recorded.
2. Short/Long-Term Goals:
- Concept of specific goals over differing time scales.
3. Outcome/Product Goal:
- Based on end result / against other performers.
- E.g. Finishing position in a race.
4. Performance Goal:
- Based on personal standards.
- E.g. Personal best.
5. Process Goal:
Correct Answers
How does intrinsic motivation differ from extrinsic motivation? - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔-- Intrinsic from within.
- Extrinsic from outside.
Explain why intrinsic motivation is thought to be a better form of motivation than
extrinsic motivation. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-- Intrinsic motivation gives
performer sense of control over performance.
- Excessive extrinsic may reduce/lead to loss of intrinsic motivation/play for prize
not love of game.
- Performers demand increasing extrinsic rewards/some
rewards/unimportant/lose their value.
- Failure to achieve extrinsic reward may lead to loss of intrinsic motivation/if no
reward = give up.
- Extrinsic motivation controls or manipulates behaviour/overly reliant/excessive
need for extrinsic - too much pressure/win at all costs/leads to cheating.
Suggest three strategies a coach could use to eliminate aggressive behaviour. -
CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-- Punish aggressive acts/fine player.
- Promote fair play.
- Remove from situation/change position/substitution.
- Encourage peer support.
- Set performance goals.
,- Highlight non-aggressive/positive role models.
- Reduce importance of event.
- Stress management techniques.
- Rewards.
- Develop fitness levels.
Describe the three names components of the triadic model. - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔-1. Cognitive - What you believe to be true.
2. Affective - Your feelings or emotional response.
3. Behavioural - Your intended behaviour dependent on your attitude.
Explain the differences between the terms social inhibition and evaluation
apprehension. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-Social Inhibition: The negative influence of
others on performance who are present at the time.
Evaluation Apprehension: The negative influence of others if the performer feels
they are being judged.
Explain how the interactionist theories of personality enable us to predict the
behaviour of performers. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-- Behaviour is a function of
personality and environment / B=f(PxE)
- Leads to stable behaviour in a certain situation.
- Hence able to predict behaviour when performing.
- Change environment change behaviour.
,Explain the concept of 'social facilitation' and how it can affect performance. -
CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-- Social facilitation is the influence of presence of others
on performance/presence of others increases arousal.
- Social inhibition - Negative effect of audience on performance.
- Audience - those watching.
- Co-Actors - Performing same task but not in competition.
- Competitive co-actors - In direct competition.
- Social reinforcers - direct influence e.g. coach.
- Linked to drive theory.
- Increasing arousal leads to dominant response.
- Experienced performer better - simple tasks.
- Novices perform worse - complex skills.
- Evaluation apprehension - influence greater if being judged.
- Baron's Distraction-conflict theory - need to focus on task and ignore audience
Identify the benefits of Goal Setting. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-1. Improved
confidence/self-efficacy.
2. Increased motivation/drive.
3. Prevents learning plateau.
4. Task persistence/push themselves.
5. Reduced anxiety/stress/more relaxed.
6. Focuses attention/concentration/improved selective attention.
, Explain why a coach would use performance goals and outcome goals for a
performer. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-Performance Goals:
- Improve personal standards / personal best.
- To avoid comparisons with others.
Outcome Goals:
- To achieve a better result (win a game, finish in a certain position.)
Identify and explain the different types of goals that a coach could use to motivate
performers. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-1. SMART Goals
- Specific / measurable / accepted / realistic / time phased / exciting / recorded.
2. Short/Long-Term Goals:
- Concept of specific goals over differing time scales.
3. Outcome/Product Goal:
- Based on end result / against other performers.
- E.g. Finishing position in a race.
4. Performance Goal:
- Based on personal standards.
- E.g. Personal best.
5. Process Goal:
