Deborah Feltz

Michigan State University | MSU · Department of Kinesiology

The purpose of this meta-analysis was to examine the Köhler motivation effect in partnered dyads (conjunctive task structure) during exercise. This preregistered meta-analysis followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and included 19 (total sample size N = 1,912) primary, peer-reviewed resea...

free eprint: https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/ZEQIK2NM7VPYVJRTZJIJ/full?target=10.1080/1091367X.2023.2218837 The purpose of this study was to explore the validity of evidence for self-efficacy to regulate physical activity scale (SERPA) measurement using an exploratory latent variable approach. The objectives were to explore the dimensionality, t...

This study examined the moderating effects of efficacy beliefs and perceived indispensability on individual efforts in early-season collegiate swimming relays. Effort changes from swimmers’ individual best times to relay-leg times were compared as a function of relay members’ relative strength (i.e., fastest or slowest) and serial position (i.e., f...

This chapter provides an overview of self-efficacy theory in sport and physical activity settings, including measurement issues, team dynamics and collective efficacy, and relational efficacy beliefs. Five major research questions are posed to stimulate future research. These are (a) What functional properties and directional paths work best to pre...

This book brings to light the most pressing questions that must be addressed to advance the field. The book, which contains 25 chapters organized into three categories (Performance and Learning, Health and Well-Being, and Cultural and Professional Issues), includes contributions from leading experts in the field. Each chapter starts with a brief su...

This three-part study aimed to translate, cross-culturally adapt, and validate the Collective Efficacy Questionnaire for Sports (CEQS) for Brazilian athletes. In Study 1, six translators and six specialists developed a Portuguese version of the CEQS (the CEQS-B), and 10 experts and 10 sports participants provided content validity evidence based on...

Personal trainers are a common social agent in the exercise workforce. However, little is known about their impact on the psychosocial or behavioral outcomes of their clients. This two-study project used the tripartite efficacy framework to elucidate the client outcomes of working with a personal trainer. The first study examined the multivariate r...

Feltz, DL, Hill, CR, Samendinger, S, Myers, ND, Pivarnik, JM, Winn, B, Ede, A, and Ploutz-Snyder, L. Can simulated partners boost workout effort in long-term exercise? J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2020-We tested whether exercising with a stronger simulated (i.e., software-generated) partner leads to greater work effort compared to exercising...

This chapter examines research that has uncovered motivation gains when working in group settings. It examines the Köhler effect in both sport and exercise settings. The Köhler effect is hypothesized to function based on two key mechanisms: upward social comparison and group indispensability. Sports provide an avenue to study the individual behavio...

The authors describe two research experiments exploring the influence of race on the Köhler motivation gain effect with exercise tasks. Experiment 1 tested whether partner racial dissimilarity affects individual performance. Experiment 2 created a team identity recategorization intervention to potentially counter the influence on performance observ...

In this brief autobiography, I reflect on how my childhood and adolescent experiences influenced my decision to study the psychology of sport and physical activity. I describe how my research evolved over time, my contributions to the field, and the people who were influential in my career. Finally, I offer some suggestions for how the field of kin...

Background: The positive role of self-efficacy in directing a wide range of health-related interventions has been well documented, including those targeting an increase in physical activity. However, rarely do researchers control the influence of past performance and past self-efficacy perception ratings when exploring the interaction of self-effic...

In order to improve physical activity levels, it has previously been suggested that the use of rewards can potentially have an impact on exercise behavior. One type of reward, the opportunity to present a good impression in the eyes of others (e.g., self-presentation), has not been previously examined in an experimental task. Therefore, the purpose...

The purpose of the present study was to translate into Spanish and analyze the reliability and validity of the Referee Self-Efficacy Scale (REFS). The English version of the 13-item REFS, which was created by Myers, Feltz, Guillén and Dithurbide (2012), was analyzed with data obtained from a sample of 490 Spanish referees representing three differe...

Previous reviews have highlighted the importance of self-efficacy beliefs in maintaining adequate levels of childhood physical activity (PA), but variable findings with different age groups and measures of PA indicate the need to quantify the extant literature. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to estimate the relationship between adolescents’...

The role of nuanced contextual factors on elite athletes’ career development and transition is relatively unknown. This study examines career development of elite athletes in Southern Africa, their psychosocial development across the phases of elite lifespan development, as well as their career transition experiences. Semi-structured interviews wer...

Background The effect of the Köhler group dynamics paradigm (i.e., working together with a more capable partner where one's performance is indispensable to the team outcome) has been shown to increase motivation to exercise longer at a strength task in partnered exercise video games (exergames) using a software-generated partner (SGP). However, the...

Purpose The Köhler group dynamic motivation effect capitalizes on group interdependence to motivate greater effort for lower ability members (when the outcome is dependent on the weaker member). This field study applied the Köhler group dynamic in a mobile app with a software-generated partner (SGP), for the first time, to motivate adults to persis...

Objective: We examined how competing with a software-generated partner (SGP) against another human/virtual partner team, in an exercise video game (exergame), affects individual motivation as measured by effort. Materials and methods: Participants (n = 90; 49 female; Mage = 19.93 ± 1.48) were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: individ...

Background. One way to motivate people to exercise is to create a motivating social context, such as group exercise, due to social comparison opportunities. However, typical group exercise is not always easy for those who have problems in scheduling or social physique anxiety. Software-generated partners (SGPs) could offer a solution because they h...

Background: Current research has demonstrated a consistent and positive relationship between collective efficacy and group performance in organizational settings, including sports. However, there is still a need for the development of scales measuring this relationship in order to clarify the scientific shortcomings. Objective: The current study an...

Coaching efficacy refers to the extent to which a coach believes that he or she has the capacity to affect the learning and performance of his or her athletes. The purpose of the current study was to empirically synthesize findings across the extant literature to estimate relationships between the proposed sources of coaching efficacy and each of t...

The purpose of the current study was to examine the influences of leader self-efficacy and coaching career outcome expectancies on intentions for advancement in leadership careers of collegiate assistant coaches in the United States. We also investigated psychosocial antecedents of these factors and explored gender differences. Female and male coll...

Objectives: This study explored the Köhler motivation gain effect utilizing adults and software-generated partners (SGPs) during an abdominal exercise regimen and compared the type of participant-SGP introductory dialogue as a moderator. The Köhler effect applies interdependent team dynamics in which group performance is dependent upon the weaker...

During the last decade, team confidence has received more and more attention in the sport psychology literature. Research has demonstrated that athletes who are more confident in their team’s abilities exert more effort, set more challenging goals, are more resilient when facing adversities, and ultimately perform better. This article reviews the e...

The purpose of this manuscript was to provide a substantive (i.e., well-being self-efficacy) – methodological (i.e., complier average causal effect estimation) synergy of potential importance to future research in the psychology of sport and exercise with secondary data analyses from the Fun For Wellness intervention. Fun For Wellness is a new on-l...

We tested a range of facilitating and inhibiting antecedents of leader self-efficacy on a large sample of 692 women intercollegiate athletic administrators in National Collegiate Athletic Association registered institutions. Drawing from social cognitive theory (Bandura, 1997), we examined developmental challenges, peer and supervisor feedback and...

Background: Astronauts may have difficulty adhering to exercise regimens at vigorous intensity levels during long space missions. Vigorous exercise is important for aerobic and musculoskeletal health during space missions and afterwards. A key impediment to maintaining vigorous exercise is motivation. Finding ways to motivate astronauts to exercis...

Objectives Research on the relationship between self-efficacy beliefs and subsequent performance on a task has typically supported a positive linear model. However, these results typically excluded a moderate level of self-efficacy as an independent variable nor used quadratic regression analyses to test for a curvilinear relationship. There are re...

Recent research on exercise with virtually present partners found that encouragement attenuated the Köhler effect, which boosts task motivation for weaker group members in conjunctive tasks. The current study replicated and extended previous research, comparing exclusive (e.g. “you can do it”) and inclusive encouragement (e.g. “we can do it”) as po...

Objective: Research on active videogames (AVGs) has demonstrated the motivation-boosting power of the Köhler effect (a motivating force for "weak links" in groups based on group principles of upward social comparison and indispensability) with software-generated partners (SGPs), but the effect has yet to be examined over time. We tested the viabil...

In this article we present the results of the 2015 review and ranking of U.S. doctoral programs in kinesiology conducted by the National Academy of Kinesiology (NAK) and based on data for the calendar years 2010 through 2014. This is the third consecutive five-year review and represents the only continuous effort to create rankings for the field of...

This study analyzed the relationships between the basic motivational needs, burnout and engagement in soccer players with the aim of finding an explanation for why these athletes stay engaged or burnout. Participants were 227 male Spanish third division soccer players between the ages of 18 and 32 (M = 23.36; SD = 3.63), who completed questionnaire...

This study analyzed the relationships between the basic motivational needs, burnout and engagement in soccer players with the aim of finding an explanation for why these athletes stay engaged or burnout. Participants were 227 male Spanish third division soccer players between the ages of 18 and 32 (M = 23.36, SD = 3.63), who completed questionnaire...

Background: Pregnancy risk perceptions and physical activity efficacy beliefs may facilitate or impede pregnancy leisure-time physical activity (LTPA). We examined the separate and joint influence of these variables on LTPA behavior among pregnant women. Methods: Pregnant women (n=302) completed a survey containing questions on LTPA efficacy bel...

The primary objective of this study was to get an in-depth account of the role of dual careers on elite athletes' post-sport career transition and to examine these issues cross-culturally between South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe. This study also examined the availability of support services for student-athletes’ dual-careers in their re...

OBJECTIVE : Kohler motivation gain principles were utilized (based on the group dynamics principles of upward social comparison and indispensability) to explore increasing exercise duration in an obese community sample (mean BMI = 38 kg∙m -2 ) with a lighter versus same weight virtually-presented interactive exergame partner. METHODS : Community ad...

Many adults and children in the U.S. are not active enough to meet the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services guidelines for physical activity to maintain health and reduce the risk of chronic disease. Exergames (exercise video games) have the potential to promote physical activity, and researchers have examined ways for improving motivation...

Objectives Although coaches recognize their role in preventing doping, research has shown that they lack self-confidence in how to deal with athletes whom they suspect of doping. Considering the importance of this efficacy, the current study was designed to develop and validate a measure of coaches’ efficacy to confront doping athletes. Coaches’ pe...

Pregnant and postpartum women have reported a number of barriers that prevent them from being sufficiently physically active. Overcoming these barriers is critical to ensure the health benefits of physical activity to both mother and fetus. The primary focus of this review centers on the potential impact social support may have in overcoming each o...

Although exergames are popular, few people take advantage of the potential of group dynamics to motivate play (and achieve associated health benefits). One motivation gain phenomenon has shown promise for motivating greater effort in partnered exergames: The Köhler effect (working at a task with a more capable partner where one's performance is ind...

Active videogames have the potential to enhance population levels of physical activity but have not been successful in achieving this aim to date. This article considers a range of principles that may be important to the design of effective and efficient active videogames from diverse discipline areas, including behavioral sciences (health behavior...

This study examined the relations among sport involvement and social and personal influences on high school students? educational expectations and attainment, using National Education Longitudinal Survey-88. Athletic engagement, educational expectations of significant others, peer support for academics, parental involvement in academics, and academ...

This study examined coach‐perceived coaching efficacy and athlete‐perceived coaching competency, perceptions of coaches' endorsement of unfair play, and team norm for aggression on athlete‐level moral variables in Botswana youth soccer. Participants were youth soccer players (n = 506) and their coaches (n = 24). Players completed the coaching compe...

To examine the independent and combined association of self-efficacy and fatness with physical activity in 5(th) grade children. Participants were 281 students (10.4 ± 0.7 years). Physical activity was assessed using a self-report question. Self-efficacy to be physically active was assessed using a 5-point scale. Body fatness was assessed by bioele...

This study investigated the relationships among emotional intelligence (EI), coaching efficacy (CE), and leadership style (LS) of coaches and tested the mediation effect of CE in the relationship between EI and LS. Using 323 head basketball coaches at the high school level, structural equation modeling was conducted to examine the relationships in...

Individuals who experience loss of their physical abilities often face the challenges of adapting to a new way of life. Past research has shown that sport participation can assist the physical and psychological adaptation to acquired physical disabilities. The purposes of our study were to examine the following: (a) the resilience process of sport...

Despite the physical and mental health benefits, few adults meet US Department of Health and Human Services physical activity guidelines for exercise frequency, intensity, and duration. One strategy that may increase physical activity duration is exercising with an Internet partner (ie, someone who is virtually present, as in video chat). Internet...

The present investigation sought to determine the extent to which collegiate student-athletes are susceptible to stereotype threat and the factors that predict it. We proposed a structural equation model (SEM) by which a perceived coach's positive regard for an athlete's academic ability, athletic identity, and academic identity predicts the degree...

Prior research has documented the Köhler motivation gain effect—working with a more capable partner at a task that makes one’s performance indispensible for the group can boost task motivation. Recent research has shown that the Köhler effect can boost one’s persistence exercising in groups, but that always being the group’s “weak link” can eventua...

This study considered the interrelationships among biological maturation and its physical correlates, social physique anxiety, and appearance-related physical self-perceptions in 113 adolescent female figure skaters participating in solo (n = 73) or partner contexts (n = 40). Participants were interviewed about their menarcheal status, underwent a...

Life events unique to the perinatal period may place a woman at greater risk for decreased physical activity and increased postpartum weight retention (PPWR). Study purposes were to determine a) the relationship between women's postpartum self-efficacy (SE) to overcome perceived barriers to exercise with current and past pregnancy leisure-time phys...

The purpose of this multistudy report was to develop, and then to provide initial validity evidence for measures derived from, the Referee Self-Efficacy Scale. Data were collected from referees (N = 1609) in the United States (n = 978) and Spain (n = 631). In Study 1 (n = 512), a single-group exploratory structural equation model provided evidence...

Recent research has shown the Köhler motivation gain effect (working at a task with a more capable partner where one's performance is indispensable to the group) leads to greater effort in partnered exercise videogame play. The purpose of this article was to examine potential moderators of the Köhler effect by exploring dissimilarities in one's par...

Working with teams and training groups is a common and major challenge for applied sport psychologists. This document is a position statement on the rationales, methods, and procedures of team-focused approaches in the practice of sport psychology. Furthermore, practice recommendations and research desiderata are discussed. To develop the paper, a...

Background: Physical inactivity is associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes. A key obstacle to physical activity is lack of motivation. Although some interactive exercise games (i.e., exergames--video games that require physical exertion in order to play) motivate players to exercise more, few games take advantage of group dynamics to motivate...

Social cognitive theory (Bandura, 1986, 2001) and perceptual control theory (Powers, 1978, 1991) have described the self‐efficacy/performance relationship in stark contrast. Additionally, recent work exploring these discrepancies has yielded future research suggestions yet to be undertaken (Bandura & Locke, 2003; Vancouver, Thompson, Tischner, & Pu...

A key barrier to achieving recommended intensity and duration of physical activity is motivation. We investigated whether a virtually present partner would influence participants' motivation (duration) during aerobic exercise. Fifty-eight females (M (age) = 20.54 ± 1.86) were randomly assigned to either a coactive condition (exercising alongside an...

Can taking the first (TTF) option in decision-making lead to the best decisions in sports contexts? And, is one's decision-making self-efficacy in that context linked to TTF decisions? The purpose of this study was to examine the role of the TTF heuristic and self-efficacy in decision-making on a simulated sports task. Undergraduate and graduate st...

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between decision-making self-efficacy and decision-making performance in sport. Undergraduate students (N = 78) performzed 10 trials of a decision-making task in baseball. Self-efficacy was measured before performing each trial. Decision-making performance was assessed by decision speed and...

In the United States, and to lesser extents in other developed countries, obesity is a serious problem, contributing to a number of poor health outcomes, including diabetes and heart disease (e.g., Centers for Disease Control [CDC], 2010; Weinstein et al., 2004). Although obesity is a complex phenomenon, with several genetic, dietary, medical, and...

Two investigations aimed to document motivation gains and losses (the Köhler effect and social-loafing effects) in real-life group work. Specifically, using archival data, motivation changes were analyzed from individual to additive group competition in collegiate swim, and high school track and field relays. Results showed that inferior group memb...

General OverviewDefining Collective EfficacyMeasuring Collective EfficacyBeyond the Stem: Additional Assessment IssuesMultilevel ModelingInterrater AgreementConceptual Multilevel Model of Collective Efficacy in SportConclusion

Measurement in Sport and Exercise Psychology provides a complete analysis of the tools and methods used in sport and exercise psychology research. Each chapter of this accessible text presents key measurement variables and concepts, including their definitions; an evaluation of the measurement constructs and tools available; and an explanation of a...

Advances in Motivation in Sport and Exercise, Third Edition, presents the most current information in sport and exercise motivation, including discussion of new research surrounding self-determination theory and goal achievement theory, traditional topics of goal setting and self-efficacy, and newer areas of attention such as passion and perfection...

Research has shown that among college students, athletes specifically, are at an increased risk for alcohol consumption when compared to the general student population (Cashin, Presley, & Meilman, 1998; Lewis, 2008; Presley, Leichliter, & Meilman, 1993; Wechsler, Dowdall, Davenport, & Castillo, 1995). Additionally, among athletic teams, select indi...

Before completing a team-based dart-throwing activity, 80 undergraduates were randomly assigned to one of three pre-performance self-talk conditions: (a) self-talk statements that focused upon one's personal capabilities, (b) self-talk statements emphasizing the group's capabilities, or (c) a control condition where neutral statements were implemen...