Dr.Sc.Psych., Professor V.A. Moskvin ¹
Applicant K.V. Moskvina^1
1Russian State University of Physical Education, Sport, Youth and Tourism (GTSOLIFK), Moscow

Keywords: goal-setting, psychological time, asymmetry, management, individual differences

Background. Sport management may be described as the theory and practice of efficient corporate control in the sports sector, with the individual psychological qualities of a manager being crucial for the process success. These qualities may include the following: time perception, timed prospects, goal-setting, field-dependence/ independence, anticipation etc. [4], and each of these qualities may be analysed versus the individual interhemispheric asymmetries [4-6].  

Objective of the study was to identify and rate the time perception variations in sport managers in the context of their individual functional asymmetries.

Methods and structure of the study. Subject to the study was a sample of right-handed highly educated mid-level sport managers aged 25-35 years (n = 30). The individual interhemispheric asymmetries were tested based on the Luria's Arms Folding Test [3], the test data being indicative of a domination of the relevant counter-lateral frontal lobe [4-5]. Based on the Arms Folding Test Rates (AFTR), the sample was split up into the following two groups: Right AFTR Group and Left AFTR Group of 15 people each.

The time perception characteristics of the subjects were tested using the Time Semantic Differential Test (E.I. Golovakha and A.A. Kronik) [1] that implies the time perception process as the structure including the following three constituents: time continuity/ discretion; time intensity; and the emotional attitude to a time range [1]. The study data were statistically processed using STADIA software.

Study results and discussion. The test data generated by the Temporal Semantics Differentiation Test showed notable differences only on the Time Intensity scale, with the Right and Left AFTR Groups rated by 19.4 points and 14.5 points on average, respectively (p<0.001).

It should be noted that the time perception and timed prospects are known to be closely correlated with the goal-setting ability. As provided by A.N. Leontiev, a goal plays a system-forming role when an activity is designed, as follows: “Goal-setting process provides a key impetus for one or another subject activity”; with the goal-setting (goal-constructing) notion being defined as the “subjective identification of the goal that means the nearest target outcome for the subject activity that drives it forward” [2]. Such notion as anticipation (meaning the ability to foresee/ predict a sequence of events) also plays an important role in the time perception, with the anticipation development level being generally considered indicative of the manager’s mental qualities on the whole.

The above findings were supported by the relevant intellectual test data including the Raven's Progressive Matrices (RPM, a nonverbal group test) and Cattell's Questionnaire data. The test results may be explained by the higher-level dynamic characteristics of the thinking process in the male subjects tested with the Right AFTR by the Hands Crossing Test [4]. We believe that the finding gives us reasons to state that the male subjects tested with the Right AFTR by the Arms Folding Test are more rational, self-reliant and independent, plus more stable in the behavioural models they opt for. The individuals tested with the Left AFTR by the Arms Folding Test showed lower rates on a few test scales, the rates being indicative of the higher emotionality, egocentrism, field-dependence, sensitivity to stresses and lower stability of the chosen behavioural models. The study data and analyses also showed their higher developmental rates in verbal intelligence, emotional stability, domination, self-control, field-independence, anticipation ability, overall internality and self-management ability (including the goal-setting ability).

Our study findings may be interpreted as indicative of the sport managers with dominating left frontal lobe being more inclined to perceive and rate time in a more intense manner and, hence, expected to show higher self-management, self-control and anticipation rates, i.e. the qualities of high professional value for a sport manager.

Conclusion. The study data may be applied for the differentiation diagnostics in the human resource screening/ selection process for the sport management positions and for the vocational orientation purposes.

The study was performed with financial support from the Russian State Research Fund under Project #16-06-50146-а (f).

References

1. Golovakha E.I., Kronik A.A. Psikhologicheskoe vremya lichnosti [Psychological time of personality]. Kiev: Naukova dumka publ., 1984, 207 p.
2. Leontiev A.N. Lektsii po obshchey psikhologii [Lectures on general psychology]. Moscow: Smysl publ., 2001, 511 p.
3. Luria A.R. Osnovy neyropsikhologii [Basics of neuropsychology]. Moscow: MSU publ., 1973, 374 p. 
4. Moskvin V.A., Moskvina N.V.  The problem of strong-willed regulation of athletes in the course of preparation of sports psychologists. Proc. Intern. res.-pract. conference for workers of science and education «Education & Science - 2016». Part 3. St. Louis, Missouri, USA: Science and Innovation Center Publ., 2016, pp. 9-12. doi: 10.18411/d-2016-047
5. Moskvin V.A., Moskvina N.V.  Hemispheric asymmetry and principles of differential neyropedagogy in higher education. Proc. Intern. res.-pract. conference for the workers of science and education «Education  & Science - 2016». Part 4 . St. Louis, Missouri, USA: Science and Innovation Center Publ., 2016, pp. 259-262. doi: 10.18411/d-2016-048
6. Moskvin V.A., Moskvina N.V., Shumova N.S. Volitional regulation and features of motivation young players. European Journal of  Education and Applied Psychology, 2016, no. 1, pp. 59-62.

Corresponding author: 1700018v@mail.ru

Abstract

Subject to the study were the sport managers’ individual time perceptions in correlation with the individual interhemispheric asymmetries. The study was designed to test 30 right-handed highly educated sport managers aged 25-35 years (n = 30). The asymmetries were rated using the Luria's Arms Folding Test. The managers’ psychological time was tested and rated using the Semantic Differential Test (E.I. Golovakha, A.A. Kronik). The study demonstrated that the individual psychological times of the managers with the dominating left frontal lobe showed increased rates on the Time Intensity scale. The study data and analyses also showed the higher developmental rates of verbal intelligence, emotional stability, domination and self-control, field-independence, anticipation ability, overall internality and self-management ability (including the goal-setting ability). The study findings may be interpreted as indicative of the managers with the dominating left frontal lobe being more inclined to perceive and rate time in a more intense manner and, hence, expected to show higher self-management, self-control and anticipation abilities, i.e. the qualities of high professional value for a sport manager.