Current collective efficacy research and future perspectives for sports groups, focusing on performance relativity and analysis methods

Abstract

A study was conducted to obtain a perspective on the future directions of studies focusing on collective efficacy in Japan, including pertinent analytical methods, from three different viewpoints. First, preceding studies of sports groups in Europe and the USA were extensively reviewed, focusing on collective efficacy. This revealed that such studies had centered on group cohesion. It was also found that studies focusing on collective efficacy had tended to increase in recent years. Second, empirical studies of sports groups with respect to collective efficacy were reviewed, focusing particularly on its relationship with performance. Consequently, it was noted that, in general, collective efficacy was positively correlated with performance. Third, multilevel analysis of collective efficacy was examined to estimate its future applicability to sports psychology in Japan. Finally, we identified the areas on which future collective efficacy studies of sports groups in Japan should be based, as few studies in this area have been conducted.