From the Lab to the Field: Effects of Self-Talk on Task Performance Under Distracting Conditions

Abstract

This study explored the effectiveness of self-talk strategies on task performance under conditions of external distraction in laboratory and field experiments. In the laboratory experiment, 28 sport science students (Mage 21.48±1.58 years) were tested on a computer game requiring attention and fine execution following a baseline assessment and a short self-talk training. In the field experiment, 28 female basketball players (Mage 20.96±4.51 years) were tested on free-throwing, following a baseline assessment and a six-week intervention. In both settings the final assessment took place under conditions of external distraction (noncontinuous, sudden, loud noise). Analyses of covariance showed that participants of the self-talk group performed better than participants of the control group. Findings suggest that self-talk can counter the effects of distraction on performance, and indicate that the attentional effects of self-talk is a viable mechanism to explain the facilitating effects of self-talk on performance.

Speaking clearly . . . 10 years on: The case for an integrative perspective of self-talk in sport.

“…Whereas some studies explored athletes' selftalk via descriptive methods, the self-talk literature in sport has been dominated by studies exploring, through interventions, the effectiveness of self-talk strategies, due to its direct applied value (Galanis, Hatzigeorgiadis, Comoutos, Charachousi, & Sanchez, 2018). Hatzigeorgiadis, Zourbanos, et al (2014) first described strategic self-talk as the use of cue words aiming at facilitating learning and enhancing performance, through the activation of appropriate responses.…”

Strategic Self-Talk Assists Basketball Free Throw Performance Under Conditions of Physical Exertion

“…Even though attentional aspects were not assessed in this study, it can be speculated that strategic self-talk assisted performance of the experimental group through maintaining or enhancing attentional functions. Such speculation can be based on previous findings supporting the attentional effects of strategic self-talk (e.g., Galanis et al, 2018Galanis et al, , 2021. Thus, the study provides in field indications that the attentional effects of self-talk may be a viable mechanism explaining the facilitating effects of self-talk on performance.…”

“…The first interpretation is that self-talk can help diminishing the potential impact of exertion. Galanis et al (2018), in a similar study in the field with basketball players taking a free throw test, reported that self-talk could counter the impact of external distractions and increased percentage of successful free throws. The second interpretation is that self-talk can help enhancing the effectiveness of focused attention required, thus improving performance in fine tasks.…”

“…Considering the impact of distractions, Galanis et al (2018) tested the effects of self-talk on task performance under conditions of external distraction, introduced by loud, intermittent noise, in laboratory and field settings. For the laboratory experiment, they reported that the self-talk group performed better than the control group on a computerized test requiring focused attention, whereas for the field experiment involving free throws in basketball they reported that players of the self-talk group performed better than athletes of the control group.…”

Nothing unfortunate about disagreements in sport self-talk research: Reply to Van Raalte, Vincent, Dickens, and Brewer (2019).

“…Importantly, this self-talk is not a constituent of an intervention, although it can be indirectly influenced by interventions such as cognitive–behavioral therapy or mindfulness-acceptance approaches. On the other hand, strategic self-talk is described as a process of mechanically verbalizing predetermined keywords and phrases to achieve performance-related outcomes (e.g., Galanis, Hatzigeorgiadis, Comoutos, Charachousi, & Sanchez, 2018). Ziegler (1987), in her classic study, even named these procedures self-cueing instead of self-talk.…”