This study used archival data retrieved from the 1992-1993 baseball season from Ball State University. Pitching data were used from thirteen pitchers, ages ranging 18-22, from all practices (fall and winter) and games (home and away conference and non-conference). The dependent variable was the strikes per balls ratio, multiplied by number of batters faced. Two hypotheses were generated: (1) pitchers would perform better, as defined by the strikes per balls ratio, in game situations than in practice; (2) pitchers would perform better, as defined by the strikes per balls ratio, in home games than away games. Practice conditions duplicated game conditions except for the presence of an audience. Results were analyzed by a multivariate repeated measures analysis of variance (MANOVA) and followed up by a univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA). Sufficient data were available for windup fastballs and windup curveballs. Data wereanalyzed for (1) practice versus home and away games, (2) home versus away, conference and non-conference games, and (3) practice versus nonconference games. Data were positively skewed and were modified by a logarithmic transformation. The transformed data for practice versus nonconference games showed a significant multivariate effect, E(2, 98) = 6.90, A = .002. A univariate analysis test showed significant effects for a windup curveball, F(1, 99) = 13.33, . < .000. The univariate test for the windup fastball was not significant. These results support the hypothesis that pitchers will perform better in game conditions than in practice. The transformed data for practice versus home and away games showed a significant multivariate effect, E(4, 194) = 3.52, l . = .008. A univariate analysis showed significant effects for a windup curveball, E(2, 98) = 6.90, P_= .002. These results supported the first hypothesis which stated pitchers would perform better in game conditions than in practice. Results were not significant for the windup fastball. A moderate association between performance conditions and both dependent variables, eta2 = .13, was obtained. The association for the windup curveball was almost the same, eta2 = .12. / Department of Psychological Science

Thesis (M.S.)--State University of New York, College at Brockport, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 25-27). Also available online (PDF file) by a subscription to the set or by purchasing the individual file.

Thesis (M.S.)--State University of New York, College at Brockport, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 25-27).

Thesis (M.S.)--Georgia Southern University, 2007. / "A thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Georgia Southern University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Science." Under the direction of Daniel R. Czech. ETD. Electronic version approved: May 2007. Includes bibliographical references (p. 49-54) and appendices.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2007. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains viii, 135 p. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston University

Thesis (M.S.)--A.T. Still University, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available online (PDF file) by a subscription to the set or by purchasing the individual file.

Thesis (M.S.)--A.T. Still University, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [115]-121).

Syfte och frågeställningar: Denna studie har granskat begreppet mental tuffhet och dess roll i sporten baseboll. Syftet var att, genom en kvantitativ och kvalitativ metod, undersöka hur fyra unga svenska pitchers reflekterar över de egenskaper, färdigheter och verktyg associerade till mental tuffhet för att skapa en ökad förståelse i unga pitchers mentala förmåga. Detta genomförs som den första svenska idrottspsykologiska studien i sitt slag. Hur upplever unga basebollspelare olika aspekter av de innefattande egenskaper och färdigheter som omfattar mental tuffhet? Besitter unga basebollspelare som håller en jämn prestationsnivå under match även en högre grad av mental tuffhet? Metod: Studien består av en kvalitativ och kvantitativ metod där ett urval av fyra pitchers först statistiskt har observerats under match för att sen intervjuas med en semistrukturerad intervjumetod. Statistikinsamling genomfördes med syftet att kvantitativt granska deras prestation under match sett till lyckade och misslyckade kast. Efter varje match har testpersonerna intervjuats med utgångspunkt från matchens statistik samt fyra idrottspsykologiska teman; självförtroende, motivation, idrottspsykologiska verktyg och målsättning. Denna metodtriangulering har använts för att granska hur de hanterar mentalt tuffa situationer i match. Resultat: Ett antal faktorer framkom i studiens analys som relaterade till mental tuffhet: fysiska och mentala förberedelser, den fysiska förmågan, fokusering/refokusering, viljan att bli bättre samt att hantera motgång. Även ett antal påverkande faktorer framkom: utbildning, lagkamrater/omgivning, yttre krav och externa distraktioner. Slutsats: Generellt framkom mental tuffhet som ett brett och komplext begrepp kopplat till många olika idrottspsykologiska faktorer. Kopplingar mellan self-efficacy och mental tuffhet har gjorts då testpersonerna beskrev prestationsbaserade självförtroende i sin tro på sin egen fysiska och tekniska förmåga, samt motivation i sin fysiska utveckling. Det framkom även att resultatets påverkande faktorer spelade en stor roll i hur de senare kände mental tuffhet i match. Nyckelord: Baseboll, pitchers, mental tuffhet, self-efficacy, självförtroende, motivation, visualisering, självprat, målsättning