International Journal of Sport Psychology

Applied sport psychology consultant perceptions
of the usefulness and impacts of performance profiling
NEIL J.V. WESTON*, IAIN A. GREENLEES**, and RICHARD C. THELWELL*
(*)University of Portsmouth, U.K.
(**)University of Chichester, U.K.
360
Despite the apparent widespread use of Butler and Hardy’s (1992) performance
profiling procedure (Doyle & Parfitt, 1999), there is limited research detailing
the benefits that can accrue from its use. Hence, the present investigation
sought to provide an evaluation of sport psychologists’ perceptions of the usefulness
and impacts of performance profiling. Fifty-six British Association of Sport and
Exercise Sciences accredited sport psychologists completed a closed survey detailing
their perceptions of the usefulness and benefits associated with the production of an
individual athlete performance profile within a group setting. Descriptive analysis
revealed that consultants believed profiling to be useful in providing a basis for goal
setting, identifying strengths and weaknesses, raising athlete awareness, evaluating
and monitoring athlete performance, and in facilitating discussion, communication
and interaction within teams.This brief report argues that further research is
needed to empirically evaluate the usefulness of profiling in order that its frequent
use can be fully justified.
KEY WORDS: Initial assessment, Performance profile, Psychologist opinions,
Survey.
Several methods of sport psychological assessment have been identified
in the literature including questionnaires (O’Connor, 2004), interviews
(Lloyd & Trudel, 1999), and behavioral observation (Tkachuk, Leslie-Toogood,
& Martin, 2003). Another frequently employed sport psychological
assessment strategy is the performance profile (Butler, 1989; Butler & Hardy,
1992; see figure 1 for an example profile). Drawing upon selected principles
of Personal Construct Theory (PCT; Kelly, 1955), Butler and Hardy developed
a client centred, idiographic performance analysis tool which asked
athletes to identify the attributes essential to their performance (e.g., technical,
physical, psychological qualities) and then rate themselves on those
For correspondence: Dr. Neil Weston (E.mail: neil.weston@port.ac.uk)
Int. J. Sport Psychol., 2010; 41: 360-368