Cardiff School of Sport DISSERTATION ASSESSMENT PROFORMA: Empirical 1 Student name: Jordan Finney Student ID: St20003838 Programme: SES Common Stressors and Subsequent Coping Strategies Used During High Pressure Dissertation title: Situations in Elite Cricket: The Batting Powerplay Supervisor: Dr Rich Neil Comments Section Title and Abstract (5%) Title to include: A concise indication of the research question/problem. Abstract to include: A concise summary of the empirical study undertaken. Introduction and literature review (25%) To include: outline of context (theoretical/conceptual/applied) for the question; analysis of findings of previous related research including gaps in the literature and relevant contributions; logical flow to, and clear presentation of the research problem/ question; an indication of any research expectations, (i.e., hypotheses if applicable). Methods and Research Design (15%) To include: details of the research design and justification for the methods applied; participant details; comprehensive replicable protocol. Results and Analysis (15%) 2 To include: description and justification of data treatment/ data analysis procedures; appropriate presentation of analysed data within text and in tables or figures; description of critical findings. Discussion and Conclusions (30%) 2 To include: collation of information and ideas and evaluation of those ideas relative to the extant literature/concept/theory and research question/problem; adoption of a personal position on the study by linking and combining different elements of the data reported; discussion of the real-life impact of your research findings for coaches and/or practitioners (i.e. practical implications); discussion of the limitations and a critical reflection of the approach/process adopted; and indication of potential improvements and future developments building on the study; and a conclusion which summarises the relationship between the research question and the major findings. Presentation (10%) To include: academic writing style; depth, scope and accuracy of referencing in the text and final reference list; clarity in organisation, formatting and visual presentation 1 This form should be used for both quantitative and qualitative dissertations. The descriptors associated with both quantitative and qualitative dissertations should be referred to by both students and markers. 2 There is scope within qualitative dissertations for the RESULTS and DISCUSSION sections to be presented as a combined section followed by an appropriate CONCLUSION. The mark distribution and criteria across these two sections should be aggregated in those circumstances. i CARDIFF METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY Prifysgol Fetropolitan Caerdydd CARDIFF SCHOOL OF SPORT DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) SPORT AND EXERCISE SCIENCE 2013-4 Common Stressors and Subsequent Coping Strategies Used during High Pressure Situations in Elite Cricket: The Batting Powerplay (Dissertation submitted under the discipline of Psychology) Jordan Finney St20003838 COMMON STRESSORS AND SUBSEQUENT COPING STRATEGIES USED DURING HIGH PRESSURE SITUATIONS IN ELITE CRICKET: THE BATTING POWERPLAY Cardiff Metropolitan University Prifysgol Fetropolitan Caerdydd Certificate of student By submitting this document, I certify that the whole of this work is the result of my individual effort, that all quotations from books and journals have been acknowledged, and that the word count given below is a true and accurate record of the words contained (omitting contents pages, acknowledgements, indices, tables, figures, plates, reference list and appendices). Word count: 10,126 Name: Jordan Finney Date: 15/03/14 Certificate of Dissertation Supervisor responsible I am satisfied that this work is the result of the student’s own effort. I have received dissertation verification information from this student Name: Date: Notes: The University owns the right to reprint all or part of this document. Table Of Contents Page Number List of Appendices ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS i ABSTRACT ii CHAPTER ONE 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Introduction 1 1.2 Cricket: The Demands of The Game 1 1.3 Cricket Specific Research 2 1.4 The Batting Powerplay 2 1.5 Stress and Coping Research 3 1.6 Limitations Within the Research 3 1.7 The Purpose of The Study 4 CHAPTER TWO 2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Introduction 5 2.2 The Stress Process 5 2.3 Defining Stressors 5 2.3.1 Organisational Stressors 6 2.3.2 Performance Related Stressors 6 2.4 Defining Coping 7 2.4.1 Coping Strategies 7 2.5 Chapter Summarisation 8 CHAPTER THREE 3.0 METHOD 3.1 Introduction 10 3.2 Subjects Participating in The Study 10 3.3 Instrumentation 11 3.3.1 Constructing an Interview Guide 11 3.3.2 Pilot Interviews 12 3.4 Procedure 13 3.5 Data Analysis 13 3.6 Validity, Reliability, Trustworthiness and Ethical 14 Considerations CHAPTER FOUR 4.0 RESULTS 4.1 Introduction 16 4.2 Stressor and Coping Strategy Diagrams 16 4.2.1 Personal Game Related Stressors 16 4.2.2 Opposition Related Stressors 20 4.2.3 Experience Related Stressors 21 4.3 Coping Strategies 22 4.4 Chapter Summarisation 25 CHAPTER FIVE 5.0 DISCUSSION 5.1 Introduction 26 5.2 Contribution to Knowledge 26 5.3 Stressors 27 5.4 Coping Strategies 29 5.5 Practical Implications 30 5.6 Strengths, Weaknesses and Future Research 30 5.7 Conclusion 32 List of References 33 List of Tables Page Number Table 4.3.1 A Table Highlighting Coping Strategies 23 Used, and The Commonality of Strategy in Relation To a Specific Stressor List of Figures Page Number Figure 4.2.1.1 Personal Game Related Stressors and 17 Subsequent Coping Strategies Figure 4.2.1.2 Personal Game Related Stressors and 18 Subsequent Coping Strategies Continued Figure 4.2.1.3 Personal Game Related Stressors and 19 Subsequent Coping Strategies Continued Figure 4.2.2 Opposition Related Stressors and 20 Subsequent Coping Strategies Figure 4.2.3 Experience Related Stressors and 22 Subsequent Coping Strategies List of Appendices Page Number Appendix A. Participant Information Sheets A-1 Appendix B. Consent Form B-1 Appendix C. Question Themes and Rationale C-1 Appendix D. Interview Guides Appendix Draft Interview Guide D-1 D1. Appendix Final Interview Guide D-3 D2. Appendix E. Interview Transcription E-1 Appendix F. Ethical Approval F-1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would firstly like thank my dissertation supervisor Dr Rich Neil for the vast amounts of help, support and guidance he has given throughout University and throughout the course of this dissertation. I would also like to thank Adam Miles for the support he has provided throughout the course of this project. I would like to thank Hampshire County Cricket Club and their Director of Cricket Giles White for allowing me to use their playing staff as participants for this study. Finally I would like to thank all of the players who gave up their time for an interview, without them this study would not have been possible. i ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to investigate the stressors experienced by elite cricketers during the batting powerplay and the subsequent coping strategies used. The study was conducted using a qualitative investigation method. Based on strict selection criteria three cricketers were chosen to participate in the study. A semi-structured interview was conducted, using questions that had been created based upon input from three UKCC 3 cricket coaches. The use of three categories within the interview guide (personal factors, opposition factors and experience) not only allowed participants to go into thorough detail, but clearly differentiated between the sources of each stressor highlighted and allowed for clarity in differentiation within the results (personal game related stressors, opposition related stressors, experience related stressors). The findings of this study are presented within these highlighted categories, and show common stressors and coping strategies that occur within the batting powerplay period. There is a general agreement on a large number of stressors experienced by the participants, as is the case with a considerable number of coping strategies. One clear finding is the use of multiple coping strategies to counteract a single stressor, along with the amount of coping strategies that are common to a specific stressor. ii CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1 Introduction Throughout the course of this chapter the psychological demands that are related to cricket at an elite level will be highlighted. By identifying these demands along with the importance of coping when experiencing such stressors, a clear rationale will be provided as to why stressors and coping strategies need to be examined. The batting powerplay will be briefly described and the history of this ruling within cricket will be made apparent. This chapter will also begin to introduce stress and coping as a subject, each term shall be explained in depth. There will be a clear link displayed as to how important stress and coping is from a cricketing perspective, due to the impact that stress and coping literature has had throughout other sporting areas. 1.2 Cricket: The Demands of The Game Previous literature has highlighted that cricket as a game has extreme physical and psychological demands (Woolmer and Noakes, 2008). The sport of cricket has developed at pace over time. In the past games were played without a time limit (continue until someone wins), however back in those times there were less fixtures played within a season. The fact that games could just keep going, clearly highlights the physical demands placed upon the player (Malcolm