Latent state-trait theory: An application in sport psychology

Objective: Questionnaires are often applied in sports psychology to measure a person's trait or state. However, the extent to which the questionnaire captures differences because of trait or state influences is often unclear. The latent state-trait (LST) theory offers the opportunity to separate both variance sources. This separation allows estimating specific reliability coefficients. Design: The present paper gives a theoretical introduction to LST and its basic ideas. Using a real data set with N = 156 athletes we exemplify the steps necessary to derive the LST coefficients. All athletes filled out a comprehensive inventory assessing competitive anxiety on two occasions. Method: The data are analysed with structural equation models based on LST principles. Results: The results confirm the questionnaire's trait saturation. Conclusion: Finally, results are discussed in light of practical and theoretical implications. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.