Psychology and Sport past exam questions.   

Note that you complete one question from section A and one question from section B.  You will always have a choice of two questions from each section.

The exam lasts one and a half hours.  The section A question is worth 16 marks and the section B question is worth 34 marks.  You should therefore aim to spend half an hour on the section A question and an hour on the section B question. 

January 2002 Paper

Section A

1 (a) Describe one theory of leadership which is linked to sport  [6]

(b)  Compare and contrast theories of leadership which are linked to sport  [10]

2     (a) Describe one way in which arousal and anxiety in sport can be measured. [6]

(b)  Evaluate the use of different methods to study arousal and anxiety of sport [10]

Section B

3 (a) Outline what psychologists have learned about aggression in sport . [10]

(b) Evaluate what psychologists have learned about aggression in sport. [16]

(c)  Suggest one technique that could be used by a coach to reduce aggression in tennis players. [8]

4   (a) Outline what psychologists have learned about group cohesion in sport. [10]

(b) Evaluate what psychologists have learned about group cohesion in sport. [16]

(c) Suggest how strategies used to develop team cohesion in a school hockey team would differ in a home game compared to an away game. Give reasons for your answer. [8]

June 2002 Paper

Section A

1 (a) Describe one theory which explains attribution of behaviour in sport. [6]

(b) Evaluate theories of attribution of behaviour in sport. [10]

2  (a) Describe one way in which personality is measured . [6]

(b) Assess the reliability and validity of personality measures in sport. [10]

    Section B

3 (a) Outline what psychologists have learned about motivation and self-confidence in sport. [10]

(b) Evaluate what psychologists have learned about motivation and self-confidence in sport. [16]

(c) Suggest one technique that could be used by a coach to motivate a football team who have lost their last 14 matches. Give reasons for your answer. [8]

4 (a) Outline what psychologists have learned about attention and imagery in sport  [10]

(b) Evaluate what psychologists have learned about attention and imagery in sport. [16]

(c) Suggest how imagery and mental practice could help high-jumpers improve their own performance. Give reasons for your answer. [8]

January 2003 Paper

Section A

1 (a) Outline one model of motivation in sport. [6]

(b) Discuss the differences between two models of motivation in sport. [10]

2  (a) Outline one way in which personality can be measured in sport. [6]

(b) Evaluate the techniques to measure personality in sport. [10]

    Section B

3 (a) Describe what psychologists have discovered about arousal and  anxiety in sport. [10]

(b) Evaluate what psychologists have discovered about arousal and anxiety sport. [16]

(c) You are in the final of the 200 metres. On the warm up track you spot your rival practising. You feel your throat tighten and your heart pounding. Suggest one technique you could use to reduce your anxiety. Give reasons for your answer. [8]

 
4 (a)  Describe what psychologists have learned about attitudes to exercise and sport [10]

(b) Evaluate what psychologists have learned about attitudes to exercise and sport. [16]

(c) You are coaching a talented young rugby player. His natural skill is amazing but there is a problem. He will not turn up to team practice. The coach suspects burnout. Suggest one way to stop him withdrawing from rugby. Give reasons for your answer.. [8]

June 2003 Paper

Section A

1 (a) Outline one theory of arousal in sport. [6]

(b) Discuss the differences between theories of arousal in sport [10]

2  (a) Describe one technique to reduce aggression in sport. [6]

(b) Evaluate the techniques to reduce aggression in sport. [10]

Section B

3 (a) Outline what psychologists have learned about leadership and coaching in sport. [10]

(b) Evaluate what psychologists have learned about leadership and coaching in sport. [16]

(c) You are the coach of the under 11 netball team. They are preparing to play the first match of the season. For some it is their first taste of competition. Suggest ways that you (as coach) can provide effective leadership. Give reasons for your answer. [8]

4 (a) Outline what psychologists have discovered about groups and audiences in sport. [10]

(b) Evaluate what psychologists have discovered about groups and audiences in sport. [16]

(c) As a long distance runner you usually train alone. You have been selected for the Olympics. How do you think the atmosphere of the big event will affect your performance? Give reasons for your answer. [8]

 January 2004 Paper

Section A

1(a)  Describe one way attention has been measured in sport. [6]

(b) Evaluate the methods used to measure attention in sport. [10]

 
2 (a) Outline one study on the effects an audience can have on performers   [6]

(b) Evaluate research on audience effects on participation. [10]

   
    Section B

3 (a) Describe what psychologists have learned about personality and sport. [10]

(b) Evaluate what psychologists have learned about personality and sport. [16]

(c) A young athlete was excels at both golf and rugby. Using your knowledge of sports psychology, suggest how you would advise him or her about choosing one of these as his/her sporting career. [8]

 
4 (a) Describe what psychologists have found about motivation and confidence in sport. [10]

 (b) Evaluate what psychologists have found about motivation and confidence in sport. [16]

(c) .You are a coach for the newly formed Crumpleford United’s Under 8 mixed football team. Using your knowledge from psychology, suggest how you would keep these young players motivated and self-confident [8]

 June 2004  Paper

    Section A

1 (a)  Describe one way anxiety has been measured in sport.  [6]

(b) Evaluate the use of different methods to study anxiety . [10]

2 (a) Outline one theory of leadership in sport. [6]

(b) Compare two theories of leadership in sportl.  [10]

     Section B

3 (a) Describe what psychologists have learned about attention and imagery in sport.[10]

(b) Evaluate what psychologists have learned about attention and imagery in sport.  [16]

(c)  The last 4 X 100 metre relay was run, your team dropped the baton on the second leg changeover. Suggest one technique based on attention and imagery to improve performance in this race. Give reason for your answer.  [8]

4 (a)  Describe what psychologists have learned about aggression in sport. [10]

(b)  Evaluate what psychologists have learned about aggression in sport.  [16]

(c)  Britney Bashem is the star player in your mixed hockey team, but she can be too aggressive. Using your psychological knowledge, suggest one strategy that could be used to focus her aggression. Give reasons for your answer. [8]

January 2005 paper

Section A

1 (a) Suggest ways in which aggression can be measured in sport.  [6]

(b) Assess the effectiveness of the measurement of aggression  in sport.  [10]

2 (a) Outline benefits for health, which may include mental health, for those who participate in sport and exercise.   [6]

(b) Discuss the evidence for the link between exercise and mental health. [10]

Section B

3 (a) Describe research into motivation and self-confidence in sport.  [10]

(b) Evaluate research into motivation and self-confidence in sport. [16]

(c) You are a swimming instructor of an intermediate class (between beginner and advanced). Using your knowledge of psychology, suggest what you could include in your swimming programme to improve self-confidence. Give reasons for your answer .[8]

4 (a) Describe research into leadership and coaching in sport. [10]

(b) Evaluate research into leadership and coaching in sport. [16]

(c)  What coaching style would you advise a tennis coach to use, to help an adult beginner and learn to serve?  [8]   

June 2005

Section A

1 (a) Outline one model of self-confidence used by sports psychologists. [6]

(b) Compare models of self-confidence used by sports psychologists. [10]

2 (a) Briefly outline research that investigates home advantage in sport. [6]

(b) Discuss the limitations of research which investigates home advantage in sport. [10]

Section B

3 (a) Outline what psychologists have learned about personality and sport. [10]

(b) Evaluate what psychologists have learned about personality and sport. [16]

(c) You are the team coach for a chosen sport.  How would you respond to a player who suggested to you that they were playing in the wrong position? Give reasons for your answer. [8]

4 (a) Describe what psychologists have discovered about attitudes to exercise and sport.  [10]

(b) Evaluate what psychologists have discovered about attitudes to exercise and sport. [16]

(c) What advice would you give to an athlete who seemed to be suffering 'burnout', to help them avoid withdrawal from the sport?  Give reasons for your answer. [8]

January 2006

Section A

1 (a) Describe one way in which imagery can be used in sport. [6]

(b) Discuss the effectiveness of the used of imagery in sport [10]
 

2  (a) Describe one piece of research into personality and sports performance. [6]

(b) Discuss limitations of research into personality and sports performance.  [10]

Section B

3 (a) Describe what psychologists have learned about arousal and anxiety in sport. [10].

(b) Evaluate what psychologists have learned about arousal and anxiety in sport. [16]

(c) Suggest how a sports psychologists could help a Formula One racing driver who complained of suffering 'nerves' before a race.  Give reasons for your answer. [8]

4 (a) Describe what psychologists have discovered about social influence in sport. [10]

(b) Evaluate what psychologists have discovered about social influence in sport. [16]

(c) A team leader feels she is receiving full effort from only some of her players.  Using your knowledge of Psychology, what advice would you give her to help achieve maximum effort from all individuals in her team?  Give reasons for your answer. [8]