A number of computerised tests have been especially developed to facilitate the medical management of the sports-related concussion. Probably the most widely used of these programmes is the ImPACT test that was developed in the USA and that is registered with the HPCSA for use in the South African context. A recent Afrikaans version of the test served as the basis of the present study with the following objectives: (i) to collect Afrikaans ImPACT normative data on a cohort of Afrikaans first language adolescent rugby players with Model C education for comparison with existing South African English first language adolescent rugby players with Private/Model C schooling, and (ii) to investigate the pre-versus postseason ImPACT neurocognitive test profiles of this cohort of Afrikaans first language adolescent rugby players versus equivalent noncontact sports controls. The results for Part 1 of the study generally demonstrate poorer performance in respect of the Afrikaans cohort, which is understood to be the result of poorer quality of education. The results for Part 2 demonstrated failure of the rugby group to benefit from practice on the ImPACT Visual Motor Speed composite score to the same extent as the control group. It is argued that this apparent cognitive vulnerability in the rugby group is due to lowered cognitive reserve capacity in association with long term exposure to concussive and sub-concussive injury.

M.A. / The approach of psychology to sport has over the century been ambivalent. The relationship between the field of psychology and matters on the sports field has tended to favour one type of understanding, namely cognitive-behavioural psychology. The theoretical underpinnings of this conception are seen to be directly connected to a set of philosophical, ethical and aesthetic ideas known as Modernism, which have dominated this century. It is suggested herein that with the renewed interest of psychology in matters sporting, some of the current theoretical perspectives in the general field of psychology might be applied to sports. The approach adopted here explores how the narratives of professional golfers, looked at through a social constructionist lens, could assist them in re-evaluating and enriching their experiences. Social constructionism aims to change the traditional agenda of psychological research, which might lead to new ways of talking about ourselves and our surroundings. Social constructionism is situated inside a different set of theoretical premises, which are known as Postmodern, which challenge the Modern way of knowing.

Orientador: Afonso Antonio Machado / Banca: André Luis Aroni / Banca: Ivan Tertuliano Wallan / Resumo: Atualmente a sociedade conta com diversos tipos de tecnologias (redes sociais; televisivas; filmográficas; smartphones, etc.) que fazem parte da realidade cotidiana da sociedade contemporânea. O acesso ou falta de acesso às mesmas pode gerar diversos tipos de influência na subjetividade humana (individual e/ou coletiva). Sendo assim, o objetivo do presente projeto foi investigar a influência da tecnologia sobre a subjetividade humana. Participaram do estudo 22 integrantes de diversos grupos de capoeira, de ambos os sexos, com no mínimo 4 anos de prática, contemplando todas a posições hierárquicas da capoeira. O tipo da pesquisa foi qualitativa, com entrevistas semi-estruturada (presencialmente) e netnográfica (via questionários online do Google Formulários) nos casos de impossibilidade de encontro para a coleta de dados. Os dados foram analisados a luz da pesquisa qualitativa e trabalhados segundo a análise de conteúdo proposta por Bardim (2011) e Richardson (2007). Os resultados mostraram que de fato as Tecnologias da Informação e Comunicação interferem na expressão da cultura e na subjetividade dos capoeiristas diariamente. Sendo assim, com as mudanças sociais e de postura dos capoeiristas entre si e também com os não praticantes da arte da capoeiragem, houve uma nova maneira de se entender essa luta. Logo, a capoeira sai da marginalidade e passa ser socialmente e artisticamente aceita, bem como retratada como algo belo, compreendida como um patrimônio cultural brasileiro e... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Nowadays the society has several types of technologies (social networks, television, movies, smartphones, etc.) that are part of daily reality of contemporary society. Access or lack of access to them can generate different types of influence on human subjectivity (individual and / or collective). Thus, the objective of this project was to investigate the influence of technology on human subjectivity. Twenty-two members of various capoeira groups of both sexes participated in the study, with at least 4 years of practice, including all capoeira hierarchical positions. The type of research was qualitative, with semi-structured interviews (in person) and netnographic (via online questionnaires from Google Forms) when there was no chance of a meeting for data collection. The data were analyzed through a content analysis proposed by Bardim (2011) and Richardson (2007). The results shows that in fact the Information and Communication Technologies interferes in the culture expression and in the subjectivity of the capoeiristas daily life. Despite of the social and posture changes of the capoeiristas among themselves and also not practitioners of the art of capoeira, there was another way of understanding this fight. Therefore, capoeira left marginality and became socially and artistically accepted, as well as represented beautifullly, understood as a Brazil's cultural heritage and world heritage. Thus, masters, contramestres, formados professores and alunos take advantage of virtual... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

The present study investigated the effects of different goal and feedback conditions on performance of a basketball field goal shooting task and a more complex one-on-one offensive basketball task. Subjects (N = 100) were matched, based on pre-test performance, into one of five conditions: competitive goal, cooperative goal, mastery goal, "do your best" with feedback, and "do your best" without feedback. Results indicated the competitive group was significantly better than the "do your best" without feedback group in one-on-one performance. No other between group differences were significant, although some consistent group trends were present. Subjects' goal orientations were not related to performance in specific goal conditions, with the exception of mastery oriented subjects in the mastery goal condition.

A study was designed in order to assess the effectiveness of a positive self-modeling strategy in increasing the performance of four University of the Pacific baseball players. A multiple baseline design across participants was used as a means of assessing the effectiveness of the self-modeling technique. Participants viewed edited positive self-modeling videotapes of their own batting performance. Measures were taken on: (a) the number of line drive hits; (b) ground ball hits; (c) the number of times the participant hit a ground ball, but was thrown out; (d) the number of times the participant hit a line drive, but it was caught; (e) swings and misses; (f) not swinging at a strike (called strikes); (g) not swinging at a ball (called balls); (h) the number of foul balls; and (i) the number of pop ups. In addition, batting averages were kept for game performance. It was expected that participants would show an increase in hits, a decrease in hit outs, a decrease in called strikes, an increase in called balls, a decrease in foul balls, and an increase in batting average when each participant began the positive self-modeling. The performance of those participants not yet viewing their positive self-modeling tape was not expected to show such improvement. Improvement was observed in three out of the four participants.

This experimental study was designed to test whether viewing a West Coast Athletic Conference Basketball Game in person had a significantly greater effect on spectators than watching the same event on television or listening to it on the radio. The literature revealed mixed opinions concerning this type of testing.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.