Front
Back
Questionnaire
A written set of questions used to gather self-reported information.
Interview
A spoken question-and-answer method used to gather deeper information.
POMS / Profile of Mood States
A questionnaire used to assess mood states such as tension, anger, fatigue, depression, vigour, and confusion.
Stress
A response to a demand or situation that the performer perceives as challenging or threatening.
Arousal
A state of alertness or readiness ranging from deep sleep to intense excitement.
Anxiety
A negative emotional state involving worry, nervousness, and apprehension.
Drive theory
A theory stating that as arousal increases, performance increases in a straight line, especially for well-learned skills.
Inverted-U theory
A theory suggesting performance improves with arousal up to an optimum point, then declines if arousal becomes too high.
Catastrophe theory
A theory suggesting that if cognitive anxiety is high, a small increase in arousal can cause a sudden major drop in performance.
ZOF / zone of optimal functioning
The individual arousal level or range in which a performer performs best.
Peak flow experience
A mental state where performance feels automatic, fully focused, and effortless.
Measurement of stress, arousal, and anxiety
Assessing these responses using observation, questionnaires, physiological measures, or self-report scales.
Somatic anxiety
Physical symptoms of anxiety such as sweating, trembling, or increased heart rate.
Cognitive anxiety
Mental worry, negative thoughts, and concern about performance.
Trait anxiety
A personality tendency to perceive situations as threatening.
