asdads SS-IS9, Oral Presentation
The 1st International Conference on Sustainable Health Development
Portable Devices for Delivering Imagery and Modelling In
Sport: Qualitative Study
Thariq Khan Azizuddin Khan
University Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Malaysia
ABSTRACT
Imagery training programs are widely used by athletes (Jones & Stuth, 1997), they can be
delivered using various techniques and different kinds of equipment (Fournier, Deremaux, &
Bernier, 2008; Shearer, Mellalieu, Shearer, & Davies, 2009). Video modelling is an effective way
to generate images to improve athletes’ performance, because it gives a model of the correct skill to
be imagined (Ste-Marie, Rymal, Vertes, & Martini, 2011). Psychologists in anecdotal report have
found evidence imagery training program using portable devices, such as Mp3 and Mp4 (Rymal,
Martini, & Ste-Marie, 2010), however, there are no published studies examining athletes’ personal
experience. Thus, three qualitative studies were designed to examine the effect of employing the
portable device to deliver imagery training on individuals’ unique experience. The main objective
of Study 1 was to investigate the effectiveness of portable devices (iPod Touch) in delivering
imagery based on video modelling (expert model) among 30 female netball players, examining
their personal experience. In the pre-test-intervention-post-test study design, 15 participants were
randomly assigned into each of the Mp4 (initial and repeated instructions). Participants practised
the imagery for seven days and were interviewed at post-test. In interviews 15 participants in the
Mp4 conditions reported that their confidence for shooting increased. They considered the Mp4 to
be a useful device to practice imagery at any time and place, but imagery training routines varied
among participants and were influenced by their personal life and free time activities. The results of
Study 1 signified that the Mp4 has the potential to be a reliable tool to deliver imagery training
based on video modelling among netballers. Second study was conducted to investigate the effect
on personal experience of using portable devices (iPod Touch) for delivery of imagery training
based on self-modelling video for open skills among highly competitive futsal players throughout a
competition season. Five male futsal players with more than 5 years competition experience
(M=5.8) and involved in 3 games/week (M=2 hours/week) participated in a single-case reversal
ABAB study design for 4 months (16 games/weeks). Provided with the portable devices,
participants employed the imagery training at least once a day during the intervention phases (B1,
B2) and the portable device was withdrawal during the baseline phases (A1, A2). The interview
sessions were conducted after the final intervention phase (B2). Interview analysis results indicated
that all participants proposed that their self-efficacy have increased when employing the portable
device and their performance have improved affected from relevant futsal skills actions provided in
the self-modelling video. In summary, the method of using an audio imagery instruction followed
by an expert model or self-modelling video in the first and second study, respectively, were both
found to be suitable for delivery of imagery training. Given that participants reported having
different preferences for the timing and location of imagery sessions, individual differences (e.g.,
skills, training schedule, motivation, imagery and sports experiences) seems to be an important
factor for sport psychology researchers and practitioners to consider before developing an imagery
training program using the iPod.
Keywords: Imagery Training Program, Portable Device
* Corresponding author.. Tel: 015-48117165/7160/7178/7172; fax: 015-48117288
E-mail address: [email protected]