Thinking Aloud. A qualitative analysis of stressors and coping responses in cricket bowlers during a competitive match

ABSTRACT

Stressors and coping in cricket bowlers have yet to be explicitly examined. The present study aimed to investigate stressors and coping verbalisations of cricket bowlers during a competitive match using a Think Aloud (TA) method. TA provides access to a participant’s immediate short-term memory and overcomes limitations associated with retrospective methods such as recall bias and memory decay. Six semi-elite club level cricket bowlers were selected to verbalise their thoughts during a bowling spell in a real-life competitive match using TA. Verbalisations were recorded using an audio device and transcripts were thematically analysed to generate relevant stressors and coping themes. Findings indicated stressors and coping strategies varied throughout cricket bowling performance. Results also highlighted how stressors and coping responses represent a dynamic and recursive process and do not occur in isolation of one of another. Stressors were made up of organisational and competitive stressors and coping responses were coded using problem-focussed coping and emotion-focussed coping strategies. The findings from this study have extended previous literature by further understanding the stressors and coping responses of cricket bowlers by adopting a novel method of data collection, within an ecologically valid environment of real-life cricket competition. Applied implications and future research suggestions are discussed accordingly within the concluding remarks.

KEYWORDS:

• Cognitions
• competition
• concurrent verbalisations
• Think Aloud
• thought processes

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

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Additional information

Notes on contributors

Michael McGreary

Michael McGreary is a lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology and programme leader for Health and Social Care at University Campus North Lincolnshire. His research focuses primarily on understanding athlete cognition and career transitions. Dr McGreary is also a BPS accredited Sport and Exercise Psychologist working as a consultant with a variety of athletes.

Phil Birch

Phil Birch is a senior lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology at the University of Chichester. Dr Birch's research focuses on performance psychology, with a particular focus on athlete cognition in both traditional sports and esports. Phil's research has examined the use of think-aloud protocol as a means to capture in-event cognitions. Phil is currently working on a number of projects to examine the use of think-aloud as a reflective tool for athletes and practitioners.

Martin Eubank

Martin Eubank is a Principal Lecturer, Subject Head and Programme Leader for the Professional Doctorate in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Liverpool John Moores University. Dr Eubank is a HCPC registered Sport and Exercise Psychologist and his research focuses on sport and exercise psychology practitioner development and practice.

Amy Whitehead

Amy Whitehead is a Reader in Sport Psychology and Coaching at Liverpool John Moores University. Her research focuses on the use of Think Aloud to understand athlete and coach cognition and how Think Aloud can used as a reflective practice tool for coaches. Dr Whitehead is also a BPS accredited Sport and Exercise Psychologist working as a consultant with a variety of athletes.