Development and preliminary validation of the Sport Situation Attentional Questionnaire

Sport participants' ability to be concentrated and ignore distractors has been recognised as a crucial cognitive skill for optimising cognitive and motor learning. To date, no instrument enables to assess concentration and distraction during a sport situation. This paper aimed at developing and validating the Sport Situation Attentional Questionnaire (SSAQ) among French sport participants. Study 1 developed items measuring the level of concentration and distraction. Content validity was assessed with a panel of experts, and by using cognitive interview with ten sport sciences students. Study 2 included 164 sport sciences students, and explored the factor structure of the questionnaire. Exploratory factor analysis refined the scale to 18 items and supported a four-factor model: concentration on the task, concentration due to the teacher, distraction away from the task, and distraction toward the teacher. Study 3 included 216 sports sciences students and confirmed the factor structure. Results showed satisfactory internal consistency, convergent and divergent validity, as well as gender invariance. The relationships between SSAQ factors and state anxiety subscales supported concurrent validity. Study 4 included 481 high school students and supported a four-factor model, using confirmatory factor analysis. Results also supported the convergent, divergent validity and reliability of the SSAQ. Combined, these studies provided preliminary evidence to support the psychometric properties of the SSAQ, a questionnaire that could be used to assess sport participants' perceived concentration and distraction during a sport situation.