The preliminary development and validation of the Doping Confrontation Efficacy Scale. (January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sullivan, Philip J.; Feltz, Deborah L.; LaForge-MacKenzie, Kaitlyn; Hwang, Seunghyun
• Is Part Of: Psychology of sport and exercise. Volume 16:Part 2 (2015:Jan.)
• Page Start: 182
• Page End: 190
• Publication Date: 2015-01
• Subjects: Banned substances -- Coaching -- Doping -- Motivational climate -- Self-efficacy; Sports -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Exercise -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Sports -- Periodicals; Exercise -- Periodicals; Societies, Medical -- Periodicals; Psychology; Sports; Exercise; Societies, Medical; Sports -- Aspect psychologique -- Périodiques; Exercice -- Aspect psychologique -- Périodiques; 613.71019
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2014.04.011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1469-0292

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: Although coaches recognize their role in preventing doping, research has shown that they lack self-confidence in how to deal with athletes whom they suspect of doping. Considering the importance of this efficacy, the current study was designed to develop and validate a measure of coaches' efficacy to confront doping athletes. Coaches' perception of motivational climate (i.e., ego- or task-oriented) was used to provide evidence for the predictive validity of coaches' doping confrontation efficacy. Design: A survey-based study was conducted to develop a theoretically-based, psychometrically-sound scale. The scale was designed according to Bandura's (1997) guidelines for efficacy measures, and based in the conceptual framework of Newell and Stutman's (1991) Social Confrontation Model. A sample of 560 coaches of high school athletes completed the Doping Confrontation Efficacy Scale (DCES) and a modified version of the Perceived Motivation Climate in Sport Questionnaire-2 (Newton, Duda & Yin, 2000). Results: A 21-item version of the DCES showed acceptable psychometric properties, including a good fit of the data to the proposed five-factor model of the construct (CFI = .967, TLI = .962, RMSEA = .040, SRMR = .037). Structural equation modeling revealed that coaches' confrontational efficacy is significantly predicted by coaches' perceptions of motivational climate, specifically, that it is positively related to task-involving climate and negatively related to ego-involving climate.. Conclusion: The DCES is a valid and reliable measure of a very specific domain of coaching efficacy. This measurement can be useful in helping address significant gaps in both basic and applied research in the field. Highlights: The DCES is a theoretically-based scale for coaches' efficacy to confront athletes who dope. This efficacy comprises 5 interrelated factors – legitimacy, intimacy, initiation, outcomes, and personal resources. The 5-factor model possesses strong support for its psychometric qualities.