Position Statement

The Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Sportpsychologie (asp) is committed to the ideal of transparent science. As a scientifically orientated working group, it supports Open Science and Open Access initiatives.
The asp is committed to the scientific principles of (1) excellence, (2) relevance, (3) evidence-based, (4) social and ethical responsibility, (5) correctability, (6) transparency and (7) openness in (sport) psychological research. The last two principles, transparency and openness, are of particular importance in view of the recent debates on the replicability of (sport) psychological findings. At the same time, recent developments in the area of publishing scientific results (e.g. pre-registrations, data repositories) contribute to the principles of transparency and openness being met in a responsible and uncomplicated manner.
The work of asp aims to create and maintain structures based on the above-mentioned principles. These structures should provide incentives for the implementation of these principles and penalise violations of them appropriately.

Diagnostic

Diagnostics refers to the systematic collection of information that either favours the derivation of appropriate findings (status diagnostics) and/or enables a performance prognosis. The sports psychology support process therefore begins with the optimal combination of different data sources (e.g. interview, observation, use of psychometric/standardised procedures), which facilitates and justifies the selection of a precisely tailored intervention.
The sports psychology diagnostics portal of the Federal Institute for Sports Science (BISp) provides experts in sports psychology and top-level sport with standardised test procedures from various areas (including motivation, competition anxiety, break behaviour).

• The asp contributes to the development and implementation of standards of good scientific practice and creates opportunities to continuously reflect on and optimise these standards.

Measure:

The asp is in favour of the development and implementation of guidelines for the disclosure of potential conflicts of interest and other ethical aspects in order to maintain the integrity of research and strengthen trust in the scientific community. The asp creates opportunities for exchange and collaboration between researchers in the field of open science, for example by organising seminars, conferences, discussion forums or online communities.

• The asp helps to publicise scientific (sport) psychological findings and thus to highlight the relevance of our discipline in answering socially relevant questions both internally and externally.

Measure:

The asp advocates the development and implementation of training programmes for researchers that raise awareness of the importance of openness and transparency in research and convey how science can be designed and communicated more openly. It actively supports its members in further education and training programmes. In this context, asp is aware of its particular responsibility when dealing with small numbers of cases and sensitive data.

• The asp welcomes the many current initiatives to ensure and improve transparency and openness in research (e.g. the initiatives of the Center for Open Science) and supports initiatives that improve the quality of scientific (sports) research.

Measure:

The asp works actively with other scientific organisations to develop and disseminate standards and guidelines for the promotion of openness and transparency in research, and to promote the implementation of these standards at national and international level (including membership of the dvs ad hoc committee on "Research Data Management"). The Journal of Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology as the central publication organ of asp already follows the principles of open science.

Declaration of the Executive Committee of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Sportpsychologie (asp) on compliance with scientific principles

Diagnostic

• The asp contributes to the development and implementation of standards of good scientific practice and creates opportunities to continuously reflect on and optimise these standards.

• The asp helps to publicise scientific (sport) psychological findings and thus to highlight the relevance of our discipline in answering socially relevant questions both internally and externally.

• The asp welcomes the many current initiatives to ensure and improve transparency and openness in research (e.g. the initiatives of the Center for Open Science) and supports initiatives that improve the quality of scientific (sports) research.

asp Info at a glance

Declaration of the Executive Committee of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Sportpsychologie (asp) on compliance with scientific principles

Diagnostic

• The asp contributes to the development and implementation of standards of good scientific practice and creates opportunities to continuously reflect on and optimise these standards.

• The asp helps to publicise scientific (sport) psychological findings and thus to highlight the relevance of our discipline in answering socially relevant questions both internally and externally.

• The asp welcomes the many current initiatives to ensure and improve transparency and openness in research (e.g. the initiatives of the Center for Open Science) and supports initiatives that improve the quality of scientific (sports) research.

asp Info at a glance

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