Evidence for a relationship between attentional styles and effective cognitive strategies during performance

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a relationship between attentional styles and effective cognitive strategies affects performance. Participants were 60 novice rowers reduced to a group of internalisers (N = 7) and a group of externalisers (N = 7) through a rigorous use of the Test of Attentional and Interpersonal Style attentional subcomponents (Nideffer, 1976). Each group completed two 15 minute maximal tests on a rowing ergometer: one in an associative condition and one in a dissociative condition in a counterbalanced design. Immediately following both tests, the participants completed a questionnaire evaluating their performance. Results revealed that the internal group completed a significantly greater distance in the associative condition than in the dissociative condition and, conversely, the external group completed a significantly greater distance in the dissociative condition. Questionnaire responses indicated that participants clearly preferred the strategy most similar to their attentional style.