Measuring Situation Awareness in Equestrian Polo using the Spot the Ball Task

Thank you for expressing interest in this Nottingham Trent University PhD research project. Before you agree to take part, it is important you understand what this research entails and what you will be asked to do. Consider carefully the following information and feel free to ask any questions regarding your participation in the study or the research itself. 

Project Overview:

Situation awareness can be described as the concept of ‘knowing what is going on’ and having good situation awareness in important in being successful at tasks such as sport. This research is investigating Situation Awareness in Equestrian Polo. Specifically, the aim of this project is to examine the importance of different gaze orientations (where someone is looking), polo-specific mallet cues (the way the mallet is angled), and polo-specific postural cues (how the body looks) on the prediction abilities of polo players and non-polo players. The task used to investigate this is the “Spot the Ball” task in which you will be asked to click the location of a missing ball.

How will I be involved?

You will view 4 blocks of 20 polo images each for a total of 80 images. Each image will have the ball and a mallet segment removed. For each image, you will click on the screen where you believe the missing ball to be. 

What will happen to my data?

You will choose a unique identification code that will be attached to your data so that you may remain anonymous throughout the study. Please retain this identification code in the event you wish to withdraw your information from the study. Your answers will be used to compare situation awareness using different gaze orientations, mallet and postural cues, and level of expertise. Your fully anonymised data may be used in the publication of this research project or presented at academic conferences, however you will not be able to be identified. Anonymised data will be stored on a password-protected computer (NTU OneDrive) and backup copies on a password-protected thumb drive for the period required by the journal publisher. If unpublished, the anonymised data will be retained for 10 years in a secure data repository through the NTU Data Management guidelines. After this time, all data will be destroyed. No members of the team will retain any personal data throughout the duration of the project.

What if I later decide I do not want my answers to be used?

Your participation is completely voluntary.  You have the option to withdraw from the study and can simply close your web browser. You do not have to give reasoning behind your decision. There will be no repercussions should you withdraw. You have until 30/04/21 to withdraw your data if you wish. Please retain your unique identification code so the researcher can remove the correct data. Please note that you may reveal your identity if any personal information, such as an email address with your name in it, is contained within your email to researchers. Your data will immediately be destroyed. The email requesting withdrawal will also be destroyed.

Please do not hesitate to contact the members of the research team if you have any questions or comments.
 

Samantha Huffman
Department of Psychology
Nottingham Trent University
Nottingham
NG1 4FQ
samantha.huffman2014@my.ntu.ac.uk

Dr. Andrew Mackenzie
Department of Psychology
Nottingham Trent University
Nottingham
NG1 4FQ
andrew.mackenzie@ntu.ac.uk