EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN NEGATES RELIABLE EVALUATION OF SELF-TALK

Landin, D., & Hebert, E. P. (1999). The influence of self-talk on the performance of skilled female tennis players. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 11, 263-282.

Two-word self-talk was evaluated using an intrasubject experimental design in collegiate female tennis players (N = 5) performing a volley skill. Despite the authors' claims of effective results, not all Ss responded differentially between baseline and treatment.

In terms of movement pattern scores, two Ss did not exhibit stable baseline scores, and one did not show any difference. For outcome scores, four of five Ss did not show any difference in the treatment condition to the scores exhibited in baseline.

Implication. The experimental design deficiency of failing to establish data stability in both baseline and treatment conditions did not allow for a reliable assessment of the study hypothesis.

Return to Table of Contents for this issue.