1. Mental Imagery and the Senses:
Performance on a Sport-Related
Task for Eastern Kentucky
University Women Soccer Players
Presented By: Stephanie Lynch
April 16, 2011

2. Outline
 Inspiration of thesis
 Mental Imagery Introduction
 Review of Literature
 Research Question and Definitions
 Original Research
 Research Procedures
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Limitations
 Further Direction

3. Inspiration
 Division I Athlete
 “Does mental imagery give an athlete an
edge in performance?”
http://www.ekusports.com/images/2010/8/25/large_Team_Picture_Web.jpg

4. What is Mental Imagery?
• Create or re-create an experience in the mind
• Goal: To enhance performance
• Goal: Learn a new task
• Imagery example: Taking a walk in the ravine
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/72/226745888_67e3267fc4.jpg

5. Review of Literature
 Robert Weinberg, “Does Imagery Work? Effects
on Performance and Mental Skills”
– Preparatory Imagery improves performance
– Factors affecting effectiveness of imagery
• Perspective
• Task type – open or closed
• Skill level
• Time of imagery
• Simulation to actual environment

6. Weinberg continued
• Future Directions for research
– Imagery and the Use of Different Senses

7. Review of Literature
 The McWhiter’s “Increasing Human Potential:
Relaxation and Imagery Training (RIT) with
Athletic and Performing Art Teams”
– Developing guided fantasy scripts
• 1. 5 senses
• 2. Vividly set the scene
• 3. Outside to inside environment
• 4. Guide the fantasy from the viewpoint of
performer
• 5. Use positive statements.

8. Research Question
 Original Idea- Does mental imagery give an
athlete an edge in performance?
 Complications
 Mental Imagery and the Senses... Does the
number of senses imagined effect performance
on a closed-skill task for EKU Women soccer
players in the off-season?

9. Definitions
 Mental Imagery- Using all of the senses, or at
least the ones that are most appropriate to create
or re-create an experience in the mind
 Closed-skills task (Shooting a free-throw)
 Off-season (non-competitive season)

10. Original Research
 Objectives:
– Investigate athletes use of mental
imagery
– Implement mental imagery scripts
– Determine what was imagined during
scripts
– Athlete’s perception of performance
– Determine if the number of senses
imagined effect performance on a
closed skills task

11. Subject Population
• Returning players on the Varsity EKU
Women's Soccer team
• Non-competitive season in Spring 2011
• 16 athletes, freshman to junior status
• Ages 18 to 21
Recruitment
• Informed and encouraged by the
coach
http://www.ekusports.com/images/2010/8/24/xsmall_Basalyga_Lindsay.jpg

12. Research Procedures
• Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval
• Demographics Questionnaire
• Mental Imagery Survey
• Informed Consent
• Informational Session
• Vividness of Sport Imagery Questionnaire
• Experiment
• Interviews

13. Materials and
Methods

14. Materials and Methods
• Auxiliary Gym, Alumni
Coliseum
• 10 size 3 soccer balls
• 3 brightly colored
poster boards
• Duct tape
• 3 cones
• Indoor shoes

15. Materials and Methods
• 3 Randomly selected groups
– Control group, 3 subjects
– No mental imagery
– Group A, 4 subjects
– Group B, 4 subjects

16. • 1st Trail- Baseline
• 2nd Trial- Use
mental imagery
script
• 3rd Trial- Use
mental imagery
script
• Time trial run –
competition
The Experiment:

17. Materials and Methods
• Recorded Imagery Script
Effectiveness
• Recorded Vividness of
Imagery
• Individual Interviews
Q: Were you able to hear and see certain
things?
What do you think kept you from
imagining this?
Q: Were you able to taste, feel and smell?
What do you think kept you from
imagining this?

18. Results
Subject Group
Baseline
Trial 1
Experimental
Trial 2
Experimental
Trial 3
1 Green 0 1 1
2 Green 0 1 0
3 Green 0 3 2
4 Green 0 0 0
5 Pink 1 0 3
6 Pink 1 1 1
7 Pink 2 1 2
8 Yellow 2 3 2
9 Yellow 1 2 2
10 Yellow 0 3 1
11 Yellow 2 5 4
Pink: Control

19. Results
 Quantitative
 Fisher’s Exact Test
 Qualitative
 Significant Findings

20. Quantitative Results
Fisher’s Exact Test
• Chi-Squared test preferred but has assumptions
• One or more of your cells has unexpected frequency
of five or less
• Fisher's exact test has no assumption and is used
regardless of how small the frequency is

21. Quantitative Results
 Fisher's Exact Test
– Baseline scores for the 3 groups
• P-value 0.0545
– Groups significantly different at starting
point
– Gain-scores not significantly different for the 3
groups
 Insufficient evidence to show the number of
senses used in mental imagery was effective in
improving performance

22. Results
Subject Group
Baseline
Trial 1
Experimental
Trial 2
Experimental
Trial 3
1 Green 0 1 1
2 Green 0 1 0
3 Green 0 3 2
4 Green 0 0 0
5 Pink 1 0 3
6 Pink 1 1 1
7 Pink 2 1 2
8 Yellow 2 3 2
9 Yellow 1 2 2
10 Yellow 0 3 1
11 Yellow 2 5 4
Pink: Control

23. Qualitative Results
– Significant Findings
• Report they felt like they improved based on the
distance from the poster
• Were not able to imagine smelling and tasting in
most cases
• Some where not able to picture themselves in the
gym

24. Limitations
• Small sample size with low numbers
• Many variables
– Imagery ability
– Different positions on the field
– Difficult task
– Understanding the nature of the task and
experiment

25. Further Direction
• Perform in the competitive season
• Limit variables
• Develop multiple scripts of useable senses
• Allow more practice using mental imagery and
more repetitions
http://www.ekusports.com/images/2010/9/28/rp_primary_OVCSweep_Web.jpg

26. Questions?

27. Special Thanks
 Dr. Wardell
Johnson, mentor
 Lindsay Basalyga,
EKU Women's
Soccer Coach
 EKU Women's
Soccer Team
 Dr. Michelle
Smith, Statistical
Consultant
 Eastern Kentucky
University
http://www.ekusports.com/images/2010/8/25/large_Team_Picture_Web.jpg