ESP EXAM 2 2026/2027 | COMPLETE PRACTICE TEST, STUDY GUIDE, QUESTIONS
& ANSWERS
What is a goal? - ANS ✔✔an objective, standard, aim of action, happens usually within a
specific time limit, a cognitive-based strategy to increase performance and personal
development, it can enhance motivation, confidence, focus, self-awareness, it gives direction
and reduces anxiety.
Subjective goals - ANS ✔✔general statements of intent or desire. Example: "I want to do the
best I can" or "I want to work hard", goals that aren't measured in objective outcomes.
Objective goals - ANS ✔✔goals that identify a specific measurable standard of proficiency to be
obtained on a task that is accompanied by a specific timeframe. They include an outcome,
process, and performance.
Outcome goals - ANS ✔✔goals that focus on a competitive result of an event (example: winning
a race, and not being scored upon). Attainment depends on the opponents' ability and
performance. It is a type of objective goals.
Performance goals - ANS ✔✔goals that focus on objectives that are independent of other
competitors' ability and achievement. They are based on previous personal accomplishments or
self-knowledge. It is a type of objective goals.
Process goals - ANS ✔✔goals that focus on actions that are required during a performance to
execute or perform well. Example: exercising 30 minutes per day 5 days per week. It is a type of
objective goal.
Mechanistic Theory - ANS ✔✔focuses on direct attention to the important aspects of a task, it
mobilizes an effort by having a series of goals, it increases an immediate effort, prolong
persistence and boredom, and it develops new learning strategies through experience.
, Burton's Cognitive Theory - ANS ✔✔athlete's goals are linked to anxiety, motivation, and
confidence, and it focuses on an outcome or winning goals that lead to an unrealistic future
expectation, which leads to lower levels of confidence, an increase in cognitive anxiety, and a
decrease in effort and poor performance
Garland's Cognitive Mediation Theory - ANS ✔✔the goal, per expectancy/valence,
performance. Performance expectancy is a self-efficacy belief relative to reaching a range of
performance levels. Performance valency refers to the range of satisfaction an athlete
anticipates that they will derive from achieving various performance levels.
How does goal setting influence performance? - ANS ✔✔by setting specific and general goals
Specific goals - ANS ✔✔it enhances performance on low complexity tasks more than high
complexity tasks. Intervention studies consistently demonstrate the positive effect of goals on
performance in numerous sports such as lacrosse, basketball, ice hockey, etc. The conclusion is
that effective goal setting clearly and consistently enhances performance.
General goals - ANS ✔✔it enhances performance due to the explanations of mechanical and
cognitive theories. Indirect thought-processes are associated with goals that influence one's
performance.
What are the problems associated with focusing on outcome goals? - ANS ✔✔it leads to
unrealistic future expectations which cause lower levels of confidence, higher cognitive anxiety,
a decrease in effort and poor performance
What is concentration? - ANS ✔✔one of the most important psychological skills that affect
overall performance, it is the ability to focus (not force), one's attention on the task at hand and
therefore not to be disturbed by irrelevant external and internal stimuli.
Attention (concentration) according to William James - ANS ✔✔"Everyone knows what
attention is. It is taking possession by the mind, in clear and vivid form, of one out of what
seems several simultaneously possible objects or trains of thought. Focalization, concentration
& ANSWERS
What is a goal? - ANS ✔✔an objective, standard, aim of action, happens usually within a
specific time limit, a cognitive-based strategy to increase performance and personal
development, it can enhance motivation, confidence, focus, self-awareness, it gives direction
and reduces anxiety.
Subjective goals - ANS ✔✔general statements of intent or desire. Example: "I want to do the
best I can" or "I want to work hard", goals that aren't measured in objective outcomes.
Objective goals - ANS ✔✔goals that identify a specific measurable standard of proficiency to be
obtained on a task that is accompanied by a specific timeframe. They include an outcome,
process, and performance.
Outcome goals - ANS ✔✔goals that focus on a competitive result of an event (example: winning
a race, and not being scored upon). Attainment depends on the opponents' ability and
performance. It is a type of objective goals.
Performance goals - ANS ✔✔goals that focus on objectives that are independent of other
competitors' ability and achievement. They are based on previous personal accomplishments or
self-knowledge. It is a type of objective goals.
Process goals - ANS ✔✔goals that focus on actions that are required during a performance to
execute or perform well. Example: exercising 30 minutes per day 5 days per week. It is a type of
objective goal.
Mechanistic Theory - ANS ✔✔focuses on direct attention to the important aspects of a task, it
mobilizes an effort by having a series of goals, it increases an immediate effort, prolong
persistence and boredom, and it develops new learning strategies through experience.
, Burton's Cognitive Theory - ANS ✔✔athlete's goals are linked to anxiety, motivation, and
confidence, and it focuses on an outcome or winning goals that lead to an unrealistic future
expectation, which leads to lower levels of confidence, an increase in cognitive anxiety, and a
decrease in effort and poor performance
Garland's Cognitive Mediation Theory - ANS ✔✔the goal, per expectancy/valence,
performance. Performance expectancy is a self-efficacy belief relative to reaching a range of
performance levels. Performance valency refers to the range of satisfaction an athlete
anticipates that they will derive from achieving various performance levels.
How does goal setting influence performance? - ANS ✔✔by setting specific and general goals
Specific goals - ANS ✔✔it enhances performance on low complexity tasks more than high
complexity tasks. Intervention studies consistently demonstrate the positive effect of goals on
performance in numerous sports such as lacrosse, basketball, ice hockey, etc. The conclusion is
that effective goal setting clearly and consistently enhances performance.
General goals - ANS ✔✔it enhances performance due to the explanations of mechanical and
cognitive theories. Indirect thought-processes are associated with goals that influence one's
performance.
What are the problems associated with focusing on outcome goals? - ANS ✔✔it leads to
unrealistic future expectations which cause lower levels of confidence, higher cognitive anxiety,
a decrease in effort and poor performance
What is concentration? - ANS ✔✔one of the most important psychological skills that affect
overall performance, it is the ability to focus (not force), one's attention on the task at hand and
therefore not to be disturbed by irrelevant external and internal stimuli.
Attention (concentration) according to William James - ANS ✔✔"Everyone knows what
attention is. It is taking possession by the mind, in clear and vivid form, of one out of what
seems several simultaneously possible objects or trains of thought. Focalization, concentration
