Citation

Wilson M, Smith NC, Holmes PS. Br. J. Psychol. (1953) 2007; 98(Pt 3): 411-428.

Affiliation

Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. mark.wilson@exeter.ac.uk

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, British Psychological Society, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1348/000712606X133047

PMID

17705939

Abstract

The aim of this study was to test the conflicting predictions of processing efficiency theory (PET) and the conscious processing hypothesis (CPH) regarding effort's role in influencing the effects of anxiety on a golf putting task. Mid-handicap golfers made a series of putts to target holes under two counterbalanced conditions designed to manipulate the level of anxiety experienced. The effort exerted on each putting task was assessed though self-report, psychophysiological (heart rate variability) and behavioural (pre-putt time and glances at the target) measures. Performance was assessed by putting error. Results were generally more supportive of the predictions of PET rather than the CPH as performance was maintained for some performers despite increased state anxiety and a reduction in processing efficiency. The findings of this study support previous research suggesting that both theories offer useful theoretical frameworks for examining the relationship between anxiety and performance in sport.

Language: en