Initially, the participants undergo all pre-test assessments at the Neuropsychology
Assessment Center prior to being deemed eligible for the experiment. Next, participants
will be scheduled individually to visit the Race Lab to become acquainted with the lab
and virtual environment. Basics of the research study will be explained to each
participant as part of the adaptation process. This will include a brief educational
lesson on the Psychological Skills Training intervention. Following the adaptation
period, the participant will commence with the experimental race-car psychoeducational
intervention.
Design. A single-case approach with the Range-Bound Changing Criterion design (RBCC) will
used. The RBCC design is a variant of the changing criterion design used in
single-subjects research to allow for the systematic shaping of behaviors in the pursuit
of short- and long-term based objectives. As a result, the design adequately allows for
the application of the Learning-Modification-Application Model (LMA), which is based on
the premise of periodization (i.e., step-wise incremental changes as a means to improve
performance through increased challenges). That is, following baseline collection, a
performance range-bound criterion will be established a-priori based on the phase of the
LMA model. Control is established when the participant's performance consistently matches
or surpasses the criterion within the given phase of the LMA and continues to progress
throughout the subsequent intervention phases as performance criteria becomes more
rigorous. See Table 1 and Figure 1 for the basics of the RBCC Design.
Table 1. Range-Bound Changing Criterion Design Legend Design Notation Design Phase A
Baseline B Learning C Modification D Application
Figure 1. Condensed Design Structure of the RBCC Design
Treatment Phase Design Structure
Learning: A-B-A-B-A-B-A-B-A-B-A
Modification: A-C-A-C-A-C-A-C-A-C-A
Application: A-D-A-D-A-D-A-D-A-D-A
Procedural Steps. There are three main phases of the experiment- Learning, Modification
and Application. Within the Learning and Modification phases, participants will be
required to complete five separate time-trials (i.e., race against the clock in the
absence of other competitors), with each trial consisting of four laps. Multiple
checkpoints within the race along with the finish line will allow performance times to be
collected. The Application phase will also include five separate time trials, but the
race will include competitors.
Throughout the experiment, the participant will be connected to physiological recording
devices and data will be collected via the baseline and in-trial activities, which
include heart rhythms (Beats per minute (BPM) and Heart Rate Variability - (HRV)),
Electromyograph (EMG), respiration, and subjective perceptions of affect. Following each
experimental phase, immersion, cognitive and somatic anxiety measures will be taken along
with self-efficacy. Objective and subjective data from the trials will be reduced and
Individual Zone of Optimal Functioning (IZOFs) will be determined to be utilized in the
Psychological Skills Training aspect of the experiment.
Psychological Skills Training (PST). The primary focus of PST is to assist the
participants in acquiring adequate self-regulatory and coping skills as a mean to
increase the participants' coping repertoire.
