Investigating e-Sport from a sport psychologicalperspective : A mixed method, cross-case, intervention study.

Abstract: Given the similar conditions that e-Sport participant and athletes face during competition, itbecomes challenging to scientifically test if traditional applied sport psychological techniquescould affects e-Sport participants in their practice. Altogether, eight participants (age 22-25)participated in the study based on a convenience sample localized in the southwestern regionof Sweden. Each participant was randomly assigned to one of three training techniques (i.e.PETTLEP, concentration or physical activity) or placed as a control. The instrument in usewas the CSAI-2 survey combined with a brief semi-structured qualitative interview. The studyranged from 7th till 23rd of April, 2014. The hypothesis suggested that the participant assignedto PETTLEP and concentration training would increase more in (a) self-perceivedperformance and (b) self-confidence while decreasing in (c) cognitive and somatic stateanxiety, compared to the participants assigned to physical activity or as control. The resultindicates that PETTLEP and concentration training could, to a certain extent, be beneficial toenhance self-perceived performance and self-confidence within e-Sport practice. The result isdiscussed especially in relation to the IZOF-multidimensional model. The thesis also includesdiscussions regarding methodological issues (e.g. bias effect) followed by suggestions forfuture research.