Technical Specification

Background

Top athletes and their coaches recognize that elite athlete performance requires a combination of mental and physical skills. Athletes often talk of the importance of having the right attitude and confidence. Michael Jordan said that having an effective mental game is what separated him from the rest of the NBA. Tiger Woods has said that mental mistakes have had a much more severe impact on his performance than physical errors.

What the test measures

The SPQ20 measures 20 dimensions covering six key factors which in the SPQ are referred to as dynamism, motives and values, openness, sociability, anxieties and performance techniques. The profile sheet below gives further details. Click here for more information about the reliability and validity of the test.

Theory behind the test

Mental skills cover sets of behaviours other than physical skills that are instrumental in achieving success in sports. These include personality, motivation, and emotional intelligence; values and ethics; and, performance improvement factors such as goal setting, self-talk, and visualization etc. The factors covered in this report represent some of the latest thinking on the mental side of elite athlete performance.

Who your responses are
compared with

An international comparison group of over 5,000 athletes. The group includes respondents from the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and South Africa.

What the report covers

A summary assessment of your perceived strengths, mid-range skills and improvement areas along with a description of where you stand on each mental skill along with development advice. (14 pages). See sample report...

How long the test takes

15-20 minutes.

What the test costs

$14.95 USD.

Test standards

This test meets the key standards for reliability and validity of a modern psychometric instrument set out in the EFPA review criteria. See test catalogue for details.