PSY4830 SPORT PSYCHOLOGY EXAM NEWEST
EXAM 2026-2027 COMPLETE 50 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) ALREADY GRADED
'I know I am the man to beat but that gives me confidence. I can't wait to get on that track - bring
it on!'
Analyse Mo Farah's statement using Bandura's model of self-efficacy and Vealey's model of self-
confidence. - CORRECT ANSWER: A01:
Bandura's Self-Efficacy Model:
- Bandura called situation-specific self-confidence, self-efficacy.
- Bandura suggested self-efficacy can predict actual performance when necessary skills and
appropriate incentives present.
Bandura suggested self-efficacy influenced by 4 factors:
- 1st is Performance Accomplishments: How well performer done recently. Provides most
dependable information for self-efficacy & has best effect for improving self-efficacy.
- 2nd is Vicarious Experience: Process through which performers learn by watching someone
else successfully perform desired task. Watching someone of similar ability achieve success
increases performers own confidence of potential success - leads higher self-efficacy beliefs.
- 3rd is Verbal Persuasion: Help encourage performer's self-efficacy.
4th is Emotional Arousal: How performers interprets their own arousal. Bandura suggests arousal
affects behaviour through efficacy expectations.
Vealey's Model of Self-Confidence:
- Looks at influence of trait confidence, state confidence, situation and competitive orientation of
performer.
- Competitive orientation refers how much performer drawn to challenging situations.
- Vealey suggested confidence gained in one area of sport could be used improve confidence in
different sporting activity.
,- Used idea of trait confidence, where performer would rate their chances doing well in one
specific situation.
- Suggested these 2 influences combine to produce level of confidence in an objective sporting
situation.
- If it is skill that's been used successfully in past, then both trait and state confidence be high.
- Objective situation also looks at conditions skill was performed in.
- Could have been in front of large crowd or at time when score was close; in both cases pressure
on.
A rugby player is having negative thoughts about a kick in a big game. He is also experiencing
increased heart rate and muscular tension.
Evaluate the use of visualisation and centering by the rugby player to ensure the kick is
successful. - CORRECT ANSWER: A01:
- Visualisation can be used by performer to reduce anxiety levels before, during or after
performance.
- Involves performer working through images in their mind on how performance should be
completed successfully.
- Centring is form of breathing control to allow performer relax upper body whilst concentrating
on slow movement of abdominals.
- Used divert attention away from stressful situations.
- Player having negative thoughts about kick which is cognitive symptoms and player
experiencing increased heart rate and muscular tension which are somatic symptoms.
A02:
- In preparation to take conversion kick, rugby player can try control negative thoughts by
visualising kick dealing with cognitive symptoms.
- He can work through each stage of kick in his mind imagining completing kick successfully.
- In addition to visualisation, centring be good for player as be able use this technique prior to
taking the kick.
- This will allow him relax his shoulders and chest whilst concentrating on slow movement of his
abdominals and aim reduce heart rate, his somatic symptoms.
, - Be good as divert his thoughts away from negative thoughts he is experiencing prior to taking
kick.
A03:
- Visualisation good for rugby player as will develop kinaesthetic feel of kick which will increase
likelihood of success.
- Centring also appropriate method for rugby player doing kick on pitch as is an appropriate
method to perform due to timing.
- Could be argued an alternative method such as PMR too time consuming.
- If muscular tension was in legs, this be problematic for rugby player as this could negatively
impact on his kicking technique.
- In order reduce tension, player could use PMR.
- Will ensure leg muscles e.g. quadriceps and hamstrings aren't tight and so correct kicking
technique can be performed.
Describe how attitudes can be changed through cognitive dissonance. - CORRECT ANSWER: -
Create a feeling of psychological discomfort/unease/conflict/disharmony.
- Through putting pressure/challenging beliefs(cognitive)/emotions(affective)/behaviour through
new information.
- Changing one of the components so attitudes are aligned/discomfort is resolved.
Describe how the nature of a task may affect the optimum level of arousal and outline the
possible impact of under-arousal on performance. - CORRECT ANSWER: - Nature of the task:
complex or fine skills need lower levels of arousal.
- Nature of the task: simple or gross skills need higher levels of arousal.
- Impact on performance: poor selective attention/cues missed.
- Impact on performance: lack of concentration/focus.
- Impact on performance: social loafing.
- Impact on performance: ringlemann effect.
- Impact on performance: slower/poor reaction time/response time/slower decision making.
EXAM 2026-2027 COMPLETE 50 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) ALREADY GRADED
'I know I am the man to beat but that gives me confidence. I can't wait to get on that track - bring
it on!'
Analyse Mo Farah's statement using Bandura's model of self-efficacy and Vealey's model of self-
confidence. - CORRECT ANSWER: A01:
Bandura's Self-Efficacy Model:
- Bandura called situation-specific self-confidence, self-efficacy.
- Bandura suggested self-efficacy can predict actual performance when necessary skills and
appropriate incentives present.
Bandura suggested self-efficacy influenced by 4 factors:
- 1st is Performance Accomplishments: How well performer done recently. Provides most
dependable information for self-efficacy & has best effect for improving self-efficacy.
- 2nd is Vicarious Experience: Process through which performers learn by watching someone
else successfully perform desired task. Watching someone of similar ability achieve success
increases performers own confidence of potential success - leads higher self-efficacy beliefs.
- 3rd is Verbal Persuasion: Help encourage performer's self-efficacy.
4th is Emotional Arousal: How performers interprets their own arousal. Bandura suggests arousal
affects behaviour through efficacy expectations.
Vealey's Model of Self-Confidence:
- Looks at influence of trait confidence, state confidence, situation and competitive orientation of
performer.
- Competitive orientation refers how much performer drawn to challenging situations.
- Vealey suggested confidence gained in one area of sport could be used improve confidence in
different sporting activity.
,- Used idea of trait confidence, where performer would rate their chances doing well in one
specific situation.
- Suggested these 2 influences combine to produce level of confidence in an objective sporting
situation.
- If it is skill that's been used successfully in past, then both trait and state confidence be high.
- Objective situation also looks at conditions skill was performed in.
- Could have been in front of large crowd or at time when score was close; in both cases pressure
on.
A rugby player is having negative thoughts about a kick in a big game. He is also experiencing
increased heart rate and muscular tension.
Evaluate the use of visualisation and centering by the rugby player to ensure the kick is
successful. - CORRECT ANSWER: A01:
- Visualisation can be used by performer to reduce anxiety levels before, during or after
performance.
- Involves performer working through images in their mind on how performance should be
completed successfully.
- Centring is form of breathing control to allow performer relax upper body whilst concentrating
on slow movement of abdominals.
- Used divert attention away from stressful situations.
- Player having negative thoughts about kick which is cognitive symptoms and player
experiencing increased heart rate and muscular tension which are somatic symptoms.
A02:
- In preparation to take conversion kick, rugby player can try control negative thoughts by
visualising kick dealing with cognitive symptoms.
- He can work through each stage of kick in his mind imagining completing kick successfully.
- In addition to visualisation, centring be good for player as be able use this technique prior to
taking the kick.
- This will allow him relax his shoulders and chest whilst concentrating on slow movement of his
abdominals and aim reduce heart rate, his somatic symptoms.
, - Be good as divert his thoughts away from negative thoughts he is experiencing prior to taking
kick.
A03:
- Visualisation good for rugby player as will develop kinaesthetic feel of kick which will increase
likelihood of success.
- Centring also appropriate method for rugby player doing kick on pitch as is an appropriate
method to perform due to timing.
- Could be argued an alternative method such as PMR too time consuming.
- If muscular tension was in legs, this be problematic for rugby player as this could negatively
impact on his kicking technique.
- In order reduce tension, player could use PMR.
- Will ensure leg muscles e.g. quadriceps and hamstrings aren't tight and so correct kicking
technique can be performed.
Describe how attitudes can be changed through cognitive dissonance. - CORRECT ANSWER: -
Create a feeling of psychological discomfort/unease/conflict/disharmony.
- Through putting pressure/challenging beliefs(cognitive)/emotions(affective)/behaviour through
new information.
- Changing one of the components so attitudes are aligned/discomfort is resolved.
Describe how the nature of a task may affect the optimum level of arousal and outline the
possible impact of under-arousal on performance. - CORRECT ANSWER: - Nature of the task:
complex or fine skills need lower levels of arousal.
- Nature of the task: simple or gross skills need higher levels of arousal.
- Impact on performance: poor selective attention/cues missed.
- Impact on performance: lack of concentration/focus.
- Impact on performance: social loafing.
- Impact on performance: ringlemann effect.
- Impact on performance: slower/poor reaction time/response time/slower decision making.
