COMPARATIVE STUDY ON MENTAL TOUGHNESS
AMONG DIFFERENT LEVELS OF ATHLETES
RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Submitted to
SREE SANKARACHARYA UNIVERSITY OF SANSKRIT,
KALADY
By
SREEJITH S
Under The Guidance of:
Mr. PRAJISH KUMAR.P
Asst. Professor,
SSUS, KALADY
Chapter-I
INTRODUCTION
Coaches and athletes often recognize that success in sport cannot be ac-
complished without the necessary mental skills. Most coaches conservatively
estimate that the mental aspects of sport constitute at least 50% of an athlete's
performance (Loehr, 1982). Moreover, at the higher levels of competition, the
importance of mental skills is notably salient due to the comparable physical
skills of athletes and an increase in the frequency of stressful situations elite ath-
letes experience. For example, one can only imagine the potential stress and
anxiety U.S. Olympic gymnast Paul Hamm endured as he began his quest for
the individual all-around title in the recent 2004 Summer Olympics. Even the
most physically talented gymnast would need considerable mental strength to
perform in this situation.
Because the physical abilities of most athletes at high levels (elite, col-
lege, or Olympic level) are more homogeneous than their mental abilities, the
distinguishing feature of successful athletes competing at high levels is often
their exceptional mental skills (Silva, 1984). Elite athletes and coaches have ar-
gued that successful athletes are not always the most physically talented, but ra-
ther the most mentally tough. Former Georgetown basketball coach and current
NBA commentator John Thompson stated, "Being mentally tough is just as im-
portant as being physically tough," when analyzing the play of superstar Kevin
Garnett in the 2002 NBA playoffs. The media and sport community also often
address the importance of mental toughness and note its relation to successful
performances (Loehr, 1982). However, given the amount of attention the term
mental toughness is given in the popular literature, it is interesting to note the
lack of attention given to "mental toughness" to the scientific explanation of this
phenomenon. In order to gain a better understanding of mental toughness, it is
first necessary to identify some of its possible components. Once this is done, it
would be possible to develop an inventory to assess the mental toughness of
athletes. In this introductory chapter, a brief overview of the psychological con-
structs related to mental toughness is offered.
Psychology's Contribution to the Study of Mental Toughness
Although mental toughness is believed to be an extremely important part
of successful performance in athletics, there are several different themes in gen-
eral psychology that have been shown to be related to being mentally tough in
life. The first theme is learned helplessness, which is a phenomenon character-
ized by the belief that one's actions have no effect on an outcome (Seligman &
Maier, 1967; Seligman, 1975). This theme is in essence the opposite of mental
toughness, since one who is mentally tough would not surrender control to the
circumstances of life or of sport. The second theme is self-efficacy, which is the
belief that one has the qualities necessary to produce a desired outcome (Ban-
dura, 1977). A third theme is dispositional optimism, which is characterized by
one's positive expectations about the future (Scheier& Carver, 1985). The final
theme is resiliency, which is another positive quality that is the opposite of
learned helplessness. Resiliency is the capacity to succeed and remain positive
in the face of adversity (Lazarus &Folkman, 1984). These four themes along
with the available research examining mental toughness in sport, such as
Loehr's Mental Toughness Inventory for tennis players (Loehr, Retert, Brown,
& Woods, 1992) and qualitative research by Jones, Hanton, and Connaughton
(2002), all form the theoretical basis for the current study.
Statement of the problem
The purpose of the study is to compare mental toughness among different levels
of athletes such as college level, district level, state and national level players.
Delimitations
The following were the delimitations of the study:
The subjects are the students of college level, district level, state and
national level players
Total number of subjects are 40
The age group of students are 17-28 years.
The variable selected for the study is mental toughness
The test used for assessment of variables are: -
Questionnaire method
Limitations
The following will be the limitations of the study: -
The socio-economic status of the subjects
Performance level in course of data might influenced by the
environmental condition and dietary habits of subjects.
Physiological factors may have been influenced during the administration
of the test.
Hypothesis
It is hypothesis that there would be a significant relationship in mental
toughness among different levels of athletes
Significance of the study
1. The result of the study may help us to compare the mental toughness
among different levels of athletes.
2. The study will help to understand the relation between mental
toughness and levels of athletes
3. It will help to understand the importance of psychological factors for
their better performance.
Definition and explanation of terms
Mental toughness
Mental toughness seems to be an attribute that is learned rather than being an
inherited biological trait. As an athlete proceeds throughout his/ her career. She
/ he presumably become more mentally tough and are better able to handle the
money pressures of competition (Loehr, 1982).
Chapter- II
REVIEWS OF RELATED LITERATURE
Review of literature is an integral part of research. Through this process the
researcher finds and analysis literature related to the study. This process will
help the researcher to make basic information for his or her study.
Mental toughness is undoubtedly an important ingredient of athletic success,
whether athletes are in the pool, on the field, or on the court.
Studies related to mental toughness
Loehr (1982) also discussed the value of the Ideal Performance State (IPS)
and its relevance to mental toughness. He examined the responses of three hun-
dred athletes, both amateur and professional, and learned that most of them de-
scribed their best performance in similar terns, which Loehr termed the IPS.
Such an internal state is characterized by feelings of calmness, optimism, confi-
dence, and control which Loehr suggests is also characteristic of a mentally
tough performer. In a sport- specific study, gymnasts were interviewed about
their peak performances and many identified similar characteristics as the IPS,
including intense focus, concentration, confidence, and ease of performance
(Unestahl, 1982).
Ramesh Chand Yadav ,ChaudharyCharan Singh&Saifiai, Etawah
(2014)conducted a Comparative Study of Mental Toughness between National
Female Volleyball and Kabaddi Players. This study explored the comparative
study of mental toughness between national female volleyball and kabaddi
players of Uttar Pradesh teams. Methods: Female national volleyball (n = 12)
and kabaddi (n = 12) players of Uttar Pradesh team selected as a subjects. For
collection of data mental toughness questionnaire prepared by Allan Goldberg
(1995) was administered. Result suggested that there was significant difference
in mental toughness between national female volleyball and kabaddi players of
Uttar Pradesh team.
Chapter – III
METHODOLOGY
This chapter includes the research design, the sample, the materials,
procedure for data collection and precaution of the study.
Research design
This present study was quantitative in nature. Quantitative research is
defined as a systematic investigation of phenomena by gathering quantifiable
data and performing statistical, mathematical or computational
techniques. Quantitative research gathers information from existing and
potential customers using sampling methods and sending out online
surveys, online polls, questionnaires etc., the results of which can be depicted in
the form of numerical. After careful understanding of these numbers to predict
the future of a product or service and make changes accordingly.
Subjects
Sample considered of 40 students athletes such as school /college level, district
level, state and national level players, and aged 17 to 28 year old. All were
studying different courses in S.S.U.S. Kalady Sample selected based on
convenient sampling method.
Selection of variables
Variables selected for the study are:
Mental toughness
Test administration
The questionnaire will be given to the subjects. The researcher will
explain the questions to the subjects and they will fill up the questionnaire.
Collection of data
The necessary data will be collected by using questionnaire for the chosen
variables. The entire test will be administrated in Eranakulam districts
colleges
Statistical technique:
In order to find the significance of deference among two groups on
selected variables, the ‘t’ ratio may applied.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Loehr, J. (1982). Mental toughness trainingfor sports. New York: The
StephenGreene Press.
Loehr, J.E., Retert, E.P., Brown, S.W. & Woods, R.B. (1992). The devel-
opment oftwo instruments to assess mental toughness in tennis. Paper
presented atthe American College of Sports Medicine Conference, Dallas,
Texas.
Yadav,R.C., Chaudhary,C.S.,&Saifiai, E.(2014) Comparative Study of
Mental Toughness between National Female Volleyball and Kabaddi
Players, journal of education and practice, vol.5.
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http://fl.milesplit.com/discussion/topics/206
