Aggressiveness as related to basketball performance

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the aggressiveness of Ball State University basketball players in relation to fouling, stealing the ball and rebounding behaviors. Twelve individuals were selected on the basis of participation in the 27 games of the 1986-87 regular basketball season. The subjects were college males averaging 20.25 years in age, 6.46 feet in height and 195 pounds in weight. The study included the completion of the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire Test to isolate the aggressiveness characteristic. The tests were scored and the standard values on aggressiveness were correlated with the annual game statistics on fouls, steals and rebounds. The standard scores on aggressiveness were also correlated with the fouling, stealing and rebounding behaviors per playing time. A high positive correlation (.736, p. < .01) was found between the subjects' aggressiveness and the fouling behavior. Moderate positive correlations (.595 and .577, p. < .05) were discovered between the subjects' aggressiveness, stealing and rebounding behaviors. On the other hand, the fouls and rebounds collected per playing time correlated low and negatively with the aggressiveness standard scores (-.354 and -.333, p. > .05).The results of this study have led the investigator to conclude that the personality trait of aggressiveness does not strongly favor the stealing and rebounding behaviors which may be dependent upon some other factors. However, aggressiveness seems to be an important factor in the phenomenon of fouling. In addition, the amount of time spent on the court appears to influence the relationship between fouls and aggressiveness, steals and aggressiveness, rebounds and aggressiveness.