The creation of a superstitious belief regarding putters in a laboratory-based golfing task

Churchill, A, Taylor, JA orcid iconORCID: 0000-0002-0619-9992 and Parkes, Royston (2014) The creation of a superstitious belief regarding putters in a laboratory-based golfing task. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 13 (4). pp. 335-343. ISSN 1612-197X

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1612197X.2014.982675

Abstract

The objective was to determine the extent to which it was possible to induce superstitious behaviour and beliefs in a golf putting task in a laboratory. Participants (N = 28) took part in a putting task using three identical clubs in which visual feedback regarding performance was restricted. Participants were provided with verbal feedback of their performance, which was honest when they used one putter, negative with a second putter (they did better than they were told) and positive with a third (they did worse than they were told). After this initial acquisition phase, a competition was announced and participants were asked to select a putter they would like to use. The participants were then asked to rate various qualities of the putters. Significantly more participants selected the “positive” putter for the competition (N = 22) compared to the “negative” putter (N = 1), p < .001. In addition, participants claimed that the positive putter had a better weight, was more comfortable and easier to use than the negative putter (all p < .001). Overall, this evidence can be taken to show that a superstitious belief can be formed in a short amount of time within a laboratory setting and that it can affect both the perceptions and choices of an individual.


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