Measuring personality differences within a collegiate track and field team through the use of the California Psychological Inventory [electronic resource]
For the past 50 years researchers have been trying to discover the relationship between personality and athletics. Some studies indicate no relationship and others have found a profile of a general athlete. A review of the literature includes numerous studies comparing various sports teams which have revealed slight differences in personality profiles for each team, typically where one team has greater or less aggression, depression, and extroversion/introversion. Given the literature stating physiological differences between athletes including body build type, dominance of muscle fiber type, hormone secretion, brain function, and suggested personality characteristics accompanying these, a comparison of distance runners and sprinters on a university track and field team would produce the most striking and significant differences
To explore the personality differences within collegiate track and field teams, 105 male and female athletes were sampled from the University of Hartford, Central Connecticut State University, and the University of New Hampshire. 100 athletes completed the survey packet which included an informed consent form, demographic questionnaire, and the California Psychological Inventory. Data was analyzed utilizing descriptive statistics, analyses of variance, and factor analyses. Results indicated that after removing 13 invalid protocols a significant difference in standard scores exist on the CPI scale of extroversion. Athletes categorized in the sprint group were found to have slightly higher levels of extroversion than those athletes categorized as distance runners. However, both groups revealed average adjustment on all scales and the difference in scale scores were minimal. Though further research is needed, standard scale scores on the CPI may indicate a general profile of a collegiate track and field team
