Test-Description

The Sport Competition Anxiety Test (SCAT-15) is an assessment tool designed to measure anxiety related to sports competition. The SCAT-15 consists of 15 questions aimed at evaluating the anxiety experienced by athletes before and during competitions. This tool helps in understanding the level of anxiety affecting athletes’ performance and in developing strategies for managing this anxiety.

Data Analysis and Usage

Data Analysis: Data analysis from the SCAT-15 involves evaluating participants’ responses to the 15 questions in the questionnaire. Questions are typically rated on a Likert scale (e.g., from 1 “not at all” to 5 “very much”), where participants report their level of anxiety in various competitive situations.
Data Collection: Athletes complete the SCAT-15 before participating in sports events or activities.
Score Calculation: Scores for each item are aggregated to produce a total anxiety score.
Score Analysis: The total score is used to assess the overall level of anxiety. Additionally, analysis can be conducted to determine the relationship between anxiety and athletic performance, as well as to evaluate the effects of interventions or anxiety management strategies.
Analysis includes assessing the scale’s reliability (e.g., internal consistency using Cronbach’s alpha) and validity (e.g., comparisons with other anxiety or performance scales).

Purpose

The main goal of the SCAT-15 is to provide a reliable method for measuring sports-related competition anxiety. The tool aims to understand the anxiety affecting athletes’ performance and to improve anxiety management through targeted strategies and interventions.

Calibration

The calibration of the SCAT-15 involves validating the scale through reliability and validity assessments:
Internal Consistency: Assessed using Cronbach’s alpha to ensure that the questionnaire items are coherent and measure the same dimension of anxiety.
Validity: Includes comparisons with other scales measuring anxiety or performance, and evaluations of the scale’s clinical utility.

References

Martens, R., Vealey, R. S., & Burton, D. (1990). Sport Competition Anxiety Test (SCAT): Development and Validation. In Advances in Sport Psychology (pp. 82-93). Human Kinetics.
Smith, R. E., Smoll, F. L., & Ptacek, J. T. (1990). Measurement of Trait Anxiety in Sport. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 12(2), 138-155.
Hanton, S., & Jones, G. (1999). The Measurement of Anxiety in Sport. Journal of Sports Sciences, 17(8), 701-717.