Mood States

1. Mood States 2.3

2. Activity. • Take the short test and answer as TRUTHFULLY as possible. • Add up your answers using the scoring method provided then give your paper to us. • Play a round of Tiddlywinks – you have ___ counters each. Write down your scores.

3. TEST. Rate each of these statements on a scale of 1 - 5, 5 being very much and 1 being not at all: My mood today is: • Happy - 1 2 3 4 5 • Active - 1 2 3 4 5 • Friendly - 1 2 3 4 5 • Lively - 1 2 3 4 5 • Relaxed - 1 2 3 4 5 • _ / 25 • Anxious - 1 2 3 4 5 • Tense - 1 2 3 4 5 • Tired - 1 2 3 4 5 • Confused - 1 2 3 4 5 • Conformist - 1 2 3 4 5 • _ / 25

4. RESULTS • Those who scored highly in the five 'positive' moods should have been better at the game than those who scored highly in the five 'negative' groups. • Did your results and score support that hypothesis?

5. Background • Research into predictive powers of psychological tests began in the 1970’s. • Focus was on how mood, rather than traits, may predict performance of athletes. • Athletes mood was measured by using a POMS (profile of mood) questionnaire. • POMS was then used to create a profile of mental health. • A hypothesis was made that athletes with positive mental health are/were more likely to succeed.

6. Morgan’s Mental Health Model • 1978 • Used the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) to profile 57 elite rowers. • The rowers were taking part in an elite national training camp to try and be selected for national representative honours. • The rowers were told the results of the MMPI would have no effect on team selection. • None of the profiles were analysed until the final team selections had been made.

7. Predictions Morgan predicted that: • Successful rowers would be those that scored highly in vigour and extroversion. • They would also score low in anxiety, tension, depression, anger, fatigue, confusion, neuroticism and conformity.

8. Results • Showed that the MMPI had the capacity to make predictions about athletes at elite level. • 10 of the final 16 successful rowers were identified by the test. • 31 of the 41 unsuccessful rowers were identified by the test. • 41 out of 57 predictions were correct.

9. Evaluation Points • LOW BIAS - as the questionnaires were not analysed until after the competition took place, there could be no bias opinions or alteration of results. • QUESTIONNAIRE - There is a possibility that the rowers may have answered untruthfully in the MMPI due to demand characteristics and social desirability or may have felt uncomfortable giving certain answers. This means the results may be unreliable. • GENERALISABILITY - The test was only done on elite rowers, meaning the results cannot be generalised to sportspeople who are not of elite standard. We do not know if the rowers were male or female.

10. Other Research • Nagle et al (1975) • Used POMS to profile hopefuls for 1972 US Olympic wrestling teams. • Results • athletes higher in vigour, lower in tension, anger, confusion and depression were more successful. • Further profiling found results were similar for 1976 wrestling team and long-distance runners.