THE STUDY OF HEURISTIC BIAS WITHIN DECISION-MAKING RELATING TO OBSERVATION AND ANALYSIS STRATEGIES OF HIGH-PERFORMANCE COACHES

Abstract

In an applied real-world coaching settings observation of athlete movement patterns has traditionally been utilised as an extensive assessment procedure and evaluation tool, that allows the coach to gather, monitor and evaluate performance. The effectiveness of the observer’s perceptual sensitivity to the athlete’s movement pattern and identification of performance errors are critical in providing feedback and directly impacting the coaching efficacy. However, observation of technique in this context is often characterised by subjective judgements on the observer within the sporting context is complex and criticised due to the inability of the observer to account for invisible factors such as cognition, intention or perception of the athlete. Critically, observation within sports coaching while it is universally utilised, it is rarely defined or agreed upon within the literature. In guiding coaching efficacy, observation within the sport is an area with a relative paucity of research and lacks a clear definition, with even less applied knowledge available to guide and educate the coach at the coal face.

In addressing these shortcomings this thesis sequentially examined the observational process of a holistic group of adventure, performance, and Paralympic high-level coaches to
examine the development of naturalistic observational [of athlete performance] strategies, associated mental models of performance and associated decisions of high-level coaches in Olympic, Paralympic and Adventure Sports. The research process has used a pragmatist approach of enquiry influenced by real-world naturalistic philosophies to examine the research questions in ‘real life’ settings, as is the nature of a Professional Doctorate. The examination of coaching decision-making related to observation from such a naturalistic stance, has resulted in the utilisation of an innovative research design, which uniquely blended methods of Applied Cognitive Task Analysis with the approach of Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis and Thematic Analysis.

In meeting the research aim this thesis makes a unique contribution to both professional practice and knowledge. The thesis contributes and extends the body of research, in the area of technical Shared Mental Models (SMM) for individual sports, variance within Olympic and Paralympic athlete individualisation and the use of expertise in generating bespoke knowledge.

The results of the studies found. 1) The SMM can be developed and utilised as an observational tool, at an individual athlete level to identify technical psycho-motor – psychosocial needs. 2) Understanding how the level of cognitive challenge related to observation is reduced. Coaches utilise naturalistic decision-making processes to manage the complexity of coaching and that these processes are linked to experience. 3) Coaches manage observational complexity through experience and the support of experts to develop, augment and create knowledge. 4) Understanding how to reduce this challenge extends the literature in how more effective decisions can be made by the coach, through an enhanced understanding of the SMM. 5) Insights gained within this thesis help to understand observation within the sporting context by making SMMs explicit and understanding associated decision-making.

Accordingly, the thesis offers original insights to support formal para-sport coach education and mentoring regarding the SMM. Through this knowledge exchange process,
coaches are able to modify and individualise their practice to the needs of the athlete. The findings add and evidence that these SMMs cannot be transferred from Olympic to
Paralympic Sport. The overlay of a generic template derived from coach education based on Olympic SMMs is ineffective due to variance of Paralympic athlete needs.

At an applied level there have been a number of key insights that have provided Great Britain athletes a performance advantage at the Tokyo Games. This work is unique in that it
is the first time that the researcher has held a dual lens of being a Head Coach within the same sport of both an Olympic and Paralympic team in considering the SMM and the
technical models of observation they utilise.