What the SPQ20 Measures

SPQ20 Primary Scales

The Sport Personality Questionnaire (SPQ20) has 20 scales which measure different aspects of an athlete's personality and mental skills. This table shows what the 20 primary scales measure.

Table 1. What the SPQ20 primary scales measure.

Overall Mental Skills  

The SPQ20 provides an assessment of an athlete's overall mental game at the time of testing based on the Mental Skills Matrix. This matrix classifies athletes into four groups shown on axes of Confidence and Resilience, and Achievement and Competitiveness. These two factors measure an athlete's current level of confidence and self-belief, and how driven they are to achieve and win. This is illustrated in the following extract of a feedback report where the athlete presents as a borderline Easygoing Underachiever.

Figure 1. SPQ20 mental skills matrix.

Team Working and Captaincy Potential  

The SPQ20 Leadership Potential Matrix reveals an athlete's captaincy potential and approach to teamwork. This matrix classifies athletes into four groups shown on axes of Power and Aggressiveness, and Interaction and Sportsmanship. This is illustrated in the following extract of a feedback report where the athlete presents as a borderline Team Player.

Figure 2. SPQ20 leadership potential matrix.

Scorecard 1. Achievement Drive and Competitiveness  

An athlete's scores on the individual SPQ20 mental skills and personality scales are shown on four scorecards. This scorecard shows an athlete's profile on the 7 scales that contribute to the Achievement Drive and Competitiveness factor.

Figure 3. SPQ20 achievement drive and competitiveness scorecard. 

Scorecard 2. Confidence and Resilience  

This scorecard shows an athlete's profile on the 8 scales that contribute to the Confidence and Resilience factor.

Figure 4. SPQ20 confidence and resilience scorecard. 

Scorecard 3. Interaction and Sportsmanship  

This scorecard shows an athlete's profile on the 3 scales that contribute to the Interaction and Sportsmanship factor.

Figure 5. SPQ20 interaction and sportsmanship scorecard. 

Scorecard 4. Power Motivation and Aggressiveness  

This scorecard shows an athlete's profile on the 2 scales that contribute to the Power Motivation and Aggressiveness factor.