Abstract
Self-regulated learning (SRL) is a potential antecedent of the development of sport expertise (McCardle et al., 2017). The Self-Regulation of Sport Practice survey (SRSP; Wilson et al., 2021) assesses SRL—the awareness and control of self-processes in pursuit of practice goals—among athletes. A short form of the survey (SRSP-S; Wilson et al., 2019) was created with two factors representing 'motivational' and 'metacognitive' SRL processes, which were both positively associated with athlete skill levels. The main purpose of this study was to replicate factorial and criterion validity (skill group discrimination) for the SRSP-S. Competitive athletes (N = 162; M Age = 20.8, SD = 4.4) from three skill levels (provincial, national, and international) completed the SRSP-S survey. Acceptable confirmatory factor analysis fit indices (RMSEA = .057, SRMR = .063, CFI = .905) replicated a two-factor solution. A MANOVA tested criterion validity by comparing SRL scores across the three skill levels, finding no main effect, Wilk's lambda = .98, F(4,238) = 0.73, p = .571, partial-eta-squared = .012. Following preliminary analysis, a 2-way MANOVA considering sport type (individual vs. team) showed significant differences in motivational scores (p = .012), but neither skill level nor the interaction term were significant, ps > .211). The SRSP-S's two-factor structure was replicated, but counter to hypothesis, criterion validity was not supported in this sample. This presentation will explore potential explanations for this unexpected finding and implications for the SRSP-S's alternative use as a conversation tool for coaches and mental performance consultants and their athletes.Acknowledgments: This project is supported in part by funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.