VitaDebbie J. Crews, Ph.D. Assistant Research Professor Exercise Science & Physical Education Arizona State University
Over the past four years
at Arizona State University I have pursued two primary areas of research
in the areas of sport and exercise psychology. In the area of sport
psychology I have studied attention in sport, most often during golf putting
because it is possible to assess EEG brain activity during this closed
skill sport. With the help of graduate and undergraduate students
we have been able to define the attentional patterns related to successful
performance in golf putting. Our previous research using biofeedback
training has allowed us to verify these patterns and to successfully train
golfers attentional patterns that lead to improved golf putting performance.
More recently we have attempted
to manipulate arousal using psychological stress and physical activity
to observe the changes in attentional patterns, to attempt to differentiate
the patterns related to the two manipulations, and to differentiate those
that improve performance under stress compared to those that perform worse.
The recent research focus has also included studying “confidence” and ‘habituation
effects” among professional golfers. If one believes that how one
performs under pressure is related to habit strength and that focus of
attention can influence confidence whether through vicarious experience,
self-talk, or level of activation; then these two areas of research warrant
important pieces of information to the study of attention in sport.
The study of attention in
sport led me to another area of interest primarily in exercise psychology.
It seemed logical that to understand attention it would be helpful to study
a population who have difficulty attending, the attention deficit and attention
deficit- hyperactive children and adolescents. Related special populations
that also have difficulty attending are the emotionally disturbed and autistic
youth. This research focus has included the assessment and use of
various sport (i.e., golf, horseback riding) and exercise interventions
(aerobic and nonaerobic) to enhance psychological and cognitive factors.
Included in the study of various sport and exercise interventions on psychological,
cognitive, and behavioral states of children and adolescents has been a
focus on minority (i.e., Hispanic and Native American) populations.
These populations are often not reached in our typical research designs
and warrant specific attention. Results from this research indicate
interesting reductions in depression and negative behaviors and enhanced
self-esteem, grades, and positive affect.
During the past four years attracting both internal and external funding has been a priority to establish research facilities and reputable research programs in the areas of attention in sport and facilitating psychological and attentional states in special needs children and adolescents.
Internal Funding
A multidisciplinary initiative grant from the Office of Research was awarded for the 1995-1997 period. The grant of $150,000.00 was conducted with the ASU Prevention Research Center in the central Phoenix school district. Approximately 200 4th grade students were assessed for psychological and physical status and a 6-wk aerobic exercise program was compared with a physical activity program of comparable length. Results indicated reduced depression, enhanced self-esteem, and enhanced grades particularly among the exercise participants.
External Funding
During the 1996-1998 period approximately $58,500.00 was acquired from external funding sources:
1. Titleist, Foot-Joy, and
Cobra, Inc. provided $35,000.00 to conduct two research/training camps
for the Swedish
European Tour players March, 1997, and April, 1998. Results were
presented and published at the World Scientific
Congress of Golf, July, 1998, St. Andrews, Scotland.
2. The Alberta B. Farrington
Foundation provided $5,000.00 in 1996 and $12,000.00 in 1998 to purchase
equipment
for studying attention in children and adolescents.
3. Stephan Fymat and Lloyd
Glaubermann provided $5,700.00 in 1998 to study the effects of a dichotic
listening
protocol on attention and golf putting performance.
4. The Tempe High School
District awarded $800.00 in 1998 for the 1998-99 school year. This
program will examine
the effects of sport and exercise programs on emotionally disturbed high
school students. Psychological factors,
grades, and behaviors will be assessed throughout the study.
Grants Proposed
A grant proposal was submitted to the United States Golf Association (USGA), August, 1998 for $335,000.00 over a 3-year period. This research proposal will examine the effects of a research-based golf training program on psychological characteristics, grades, and behaviors among Native American children and adolescents. Decisions will be made in November, 1998.
As an assistant research
professor at Arizona State University in the Department of Exercise Science
and Physical Education my goal is to develop a research/service program
that contributes to the credibility of a Research One institution.
This program will focus on the area of attention and will specifically
service attention deficit populations, including minority and at-risk children
and adolescents.
Beginning in Spring, 2000
I plan to offer a Sport and Exercise Psychology Laboratory class at the
graduate level. This class would include assessment techniques applicable
to all areas of sport and exercise psychology: psychophysiology,
exercise physiology, motor learning and control, psychological testing,
questionnaire development, managing large data sets using SPSS and SAS,
and meta-analytic techniques. This class would be taught every other
Spring semester (the even years).
The Golf, Research, Education, and Training (GREAT) facility
will be developed with two goals in mind. The first goal is to use
golf as a medium to research and train in the areas of exercise science,
psychology, education, bioengineering, health and well-being, and cultural
diversity. The second will be to produce a research-based golf training
program that will provide a complete assessment and training package to
any participant with the goal of improving their skills and performance
in golf.
In November, 2000
ASU will host the “Future of Golfers: Research in the New Millennium”
conference endorsed by the World Scientific Congress of Golf. I have
proposed to bring academic scholars together with renowned practitioners
from the world of golf to determine future directions for researching the
golfer. The outcome of these presentations and discussions will be
published in an edited book to be used as a resource for future directions
in golf.
It is my goal that research
publications, external grant funding, and teaching selected courses will
earn a promotion to the ranks of associate and possibly full research professor
as defined by the department.