ISSUES IN DEVELOPMENT OF A PROTOCOL TO EVALUATE CHILDRENS REASONING ABOUT ABILITY AND EFFORT IN SPORT

This study developed a protocol to identify in a sporting activity the developmental stages in differentiating effort and ability derived by Nicholls in 1978 from cognitive tasks. 32 boys aged 8 to 13 years wer e shown videoclips depicting two performers on a split-screen shooting at off-screen baskets with unequal effort. False scores were presente d to indicate that the sporadic worker scored the same as or higher th an the consistent worker. Subjects were then interviewed about the per formers' ability and effort, and their responses were categorized usin g Nicholls' criteria for developmental level. The responses showed the same developmental stages derived from cognitive tasks, with some new interpretations specific to this psychomotor task. Issues of generali zability are discussed and alternative protocols recommended.