Syfte och Frågeställning Syftet med studien är att undersöka motocrossförares förberedelse inför tävling och deras uppfattning av en topprestation under tävling. De frågor som jag sökt svar på är: Hur ser förarna på balansen mellan utmaning och skicklighet utifrån sin förmåga? Vilka mål har förarna inför en tävling och vilken feedback får förarna under tävling? samt hur förarna upplever sin topprestation? Metod Studien har en kvalitativ ansats med semistrukturerad intervju som metod (Bryman 2008 s. 206). I studien ligger tonvikten på att uppfatta och tolka förarens förklaringar. Intervjuerna spelades in, transkriberades och analyserades, till största del, utifrån flowteorin. Det gjordes ett medvetet urval av informanter. Deltagarna i studien är två aktiva elitförare i motocross med SM-guld och erfarenhet från internationella tävlingar på meritlistan. Analysen vilar på forskningsanknuten litteratur samt vetenskapliga artiklar inom aktuellt ämnesområde. Resultat Undersökningen visar att de faktorer som gör att förarna upplever sin topprestation är en kombination av flera olika faktorer som överensstämmer med flowteorin; tydliga mål, tydlig feedback, handling av medvetande bildar ett sammanhang, koncentration på uppgiften, känsla av kontroll, förlust av osäkerhet, tidsförskjutning samt en autotelisk upplevelse. Förarna i studien upplever flow på olika sätt. Den ena föraren upplever en känsla av "att vara ett med hojen" och ha fullständig kontroll över den. Den andra föraren uttrycker det som att hon "går in i en bubbla" och minns i stort sett ingenting av prestationen. Slutsats Båda förarna anser det avgörande att komma väl förberedd inför en tävling samt att allt runt omkring ska fungera för en topprestation skall uppnås. Hur förarna förbereder sig och vilka strategier de använder ser dock olika ut, men gemensamt är att de har den autoteliska upplevelsen, glädjen, som drivkraft för sitt idrottande. / <p>Tränarprogrammet 1995-1998</p>

This thesis comprises a collection of research papers within the areas of goalsetting as a psychological skill, and as an individual difference factor (previously interpreted as a personality characteristic). It uses a variety of methodologies and statistical analyses to address pertinent research questions identified from the goalsetting and goal perspectives literature. The first two studies examined the influence of goal-setting practices on performance and associated cognitions. Specifically, the results from the first study provide support for the use of self-referenced goals, while indicating that process goals have additional benefits over and above those associated with performance goals. The second study into goal-setting suggested that utilising process goals in a more holistic (rather than specific) manner might prove efficacious when they are incorporated into a pre-performance routine. Although the findings providing some support for the use of process goals, it appears that the exact nature of the process goals used is important. The remaining three research studies looked at the propensity of individuals to judge personal ability according to normative and/or self-referenced criteria (ego and task goal orientations). The first study in this area suggested that these criteria change in a systematic fashion in response to naturally occurring situations, and that ability level moderates this effect. The results of the second study indicated that competition performance is differentially affected according to the specific goal orientation profile that athletes hold. The third research study provides evidence which suggests that skill level might be predi icted according to the patterning of goal orientations possessed by athletes.

Golfers have been encouraged to develop consistent pre-performance routines (PPRs) in order to enhance their performance. However, the theoretical underpinning of these recommendations is unclear. Issues relating to the overall function(s) of the PPR, psychological components; routine usage across different shot types; and the impact of task difficulty on routine execution have yet to be explored in detail. The general purpose of this thesis was to quantify differences in the duration / composition of PPRs across shot types and task difficulty while developing a greater understanding of the psychological skills utilised and the function of the PPRs To achieve this general purpose four studies were completed. Study one (n=6, age M = 22.5yrs) explored the behavioural and temporal consistency of the PPRs utilised by the participants within shot type and across three different environmental conditions (competition, practice, and simulated). PPR behaviours were classified according to four categories (head, club, posture, still). The results revealed that the participants were very consistent in their routines and no significant differences were identified between environmental conditions. In Study two (n= 6, age M= 22.5years) the extent to which participants utilised different routines for different shots (putter, driver, wedge) as well as the impact of task difficulty on routine duration were explored. Significantly different routines were used for the three shot types. However, with the exception of one component for one participant, there were no significant differences between the conditions of task difficulty (easy Vs hard Vs very hard). In Study three (n=6, Age M= 23.7yrs) heart-rate deceleration (HR-D) characteristics for each participant prior to shot execution were explored for good versus poor shots as an indicator of attentional focus. There were clear differences between good and poor performance in the duration of the inter-beat intervals (IBIs). The specific purpose of Study four was to explore the psychological strategies utilised by golfers during their PPRs and the function of the PPRs. A number of key psychological skills were identified including: imagery, self-talk, relaxation techniques, trigger-words, concentration/focusing strategies, and achieving a ‘flow state’. The evidence suggested that the function of PPRs is to focus attention on the task. The findings of all four studies informed the development of practical guidelines for the future use and development of PPRs in golf.