why is sport psychology a social science?

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Hi all, I'm working on a project about sport psychology and one of the questions I have to answer is "Why is sport psychology considered a social science?". I can't find the answer to this anywhere, and I would greatly appreciate any help.

Thank you, Danielle Cary

-- Danielle Cary (caryd@unbc.ca), February 16, 2000

Answers

Sport psychology is a branch of psychology which many consider to be a social science. However, others view psychology as a natural science. Generally, a natural science relies on an experimental method which involves random selection and assignment of subjects and the use of experimental manipulation of a variable(s). Thus, some psychology and sport psychology research fits the description of a natural science (e.g., randomly assigning athletes to one of several imagery conditions to improve free-throw performance) whereas in other psychology research data are descriptive and/or subjects cannot be randomly assigned to groups.

-- Stacie M. Spencer, Ph.D. (spencer@merlin.psych.pitt.edu), February 28, 2000.

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