QUALITY IN SPORT 2 (5) 2019, p. 47-57, e-ISSN 2450-3118 Received 10.08.2019, Accepted 20.10.2019 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.12775/QS.2019.011 PBN: https://pbn.nauka.gov.pl/sedno-webapp/works/907235 47 Paweł Piepiora1 , Klaudia Kaśków University School of Physical Education in Wrocław, Faculty of Sport Sciences Personality profile of Polish Volleyball players – a case study of players at various sports levels Abstract Aim. The aim of the study was to check if there are differences in the personality of volleyball players in Poland at different levels of sports advancement. Method and subject. The study was conducted with the NEO-FFI Personality Inventory on three groups of Polish volleyball players: first league (n = 30), second league (n = 30), third league (n = 30). Results. First league volleyballers showed lower levels of neuroticism and higher extraversion and conscientiousness indicators than players from the third league. Conclusions. There are statistical significant differences between volleyballers at different sports levels in the scales of neuroticism, extraversion and conscientiousness. Keywords: sport psychology, personality, NEO-FFI, volleyball, sports level Introduction The psychology of sport has existed almost from the beginning of the psychological sciences. The first documentation of the research in this field is ascribed to the 19th century. In addition, personality studies on which all the work focuses were the first to be subjected to frequent observations in the field of sport psychology. This is because personality plays a key role in the athlete's profession (FEPSAC, 2015). In many works, researchers considered the answer to the question of what personality is important for given disciplines. In others, they were looking for traits that are responsible for success or failure. Attempts have been made to determine what impact a discipline may have on personality. In psychology, we may have contact with many personality ideas, while a perfect pattern is sought. It should also be borne in mind that the sport they represent is also of great importance in determining the personality profile. From analyzing literature, it can be concluded that there is a great need to study personality traits in athletes and there is little data on athletes from given disciplines at different levels of advancement (Piepiora, 2015, 2019; Piepiora, Piepiora, 2015; Piepiora, Witkowski, 2018; Piepiora i in., 2015, 2016a, 2016b, 2017a, 2017b, 2017c, 2017d, 2017e, 2018a, 2018b, 2019a, 2019b, 2019c, 2019d). 1 Paweł Piepiora, e-mail: pawel.piepiora@awf.wroc.pl, ORCID: 0000-0002-6525-3936 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6525-3936 48 Paweł Piepiora, Klaudia Kaśków Aim, method and subject The aim of the study was to check if there are differences in the personality of indoor volleyball players in Poland at different levels of sports advancement. The study used the NEO-FFI personality questionnaire, the so-called "Big five". The test consists of 60 items, which means 12 statements for each of the scales, i.e. neuroticism (NEU), extraversion (EKS), openness to experience (OTW), agreeableness (UGD) and conscientiousness (SUM). The affirmative sentences to which the respondents have to respond have notes from 1 to 5, where: 1 - I strongly disagree, 2 - I disagree, 3 - I have no opinion, 4 - I agree, 5 - I strongly agree. The test results are calculated by adding up the points obtained according to the answer key. Between 0 and 4 points can be awarded for each selected answer. Due to the fact that each of the five scales contains 12 items, the respondent for each of them can receive from 0 to 48 points. The key was created in such a way that the number of points is proportional to the intensification of one of the features. Interpretation of NEO-FFI results covers two levels: psychometric and psychological. This means that the results of the respondent are presented against the background of the appropriate reference group and assume the necessity of estimating the results based on ranges. Then, results that are between 1 and 3 sten are called low, and those between 7 and 10 are high (Wiggins, 1996; McCrae, Costa Jr, 2003; Costa Jr, McCrae, 2007). The study involved 90 men, 30 volleyball players from the first (PS1), second (PS2) and third (PS3) volleyball league. The first of the examined groups were indoor volleyballers who take part in the first league games in Poland. The age range of the respondents was from 18 to 29, and the players' education was in the range from medium to higher. This group includes volleyballers from the following clubs: APP Krispol Września, AZS AGH Kraków, Exact System Norwid Częstochowa, KS Gwardia Wrocław, KS Lechia Tomaszów Mazowiecki, MCKiS Jaworzno, MKS Ślepsk Suwałki, STS Olimpia Sulęcin, Tauron AZS Częstochowa, UKS Mickiewicz Kluczbork . The first league is commonly referred to as "Plusliga". This is due to the fact that the team that wins the championship and meets all regulatory requirements will be promoted to the highest rank games in Poland. This is a professional league because the earnings of athletes are the only source of income. Trainings usually take place five times a week, twice a day. First league matches are also broadcast on Polsat TV sports channels. The other examined group were indoor volleyballers taking part in second league games. The age range of these players ranged from 19 to 34 years old, and education from professional to higher. NEO-FFI was filled by volleyballers from the following clubs: BGS KS "Orzeł" Międzyrzecz, AZS Politechnika Opolska, Czarni Wirex Rząśnia, MKS Ikar Legnica, LUKS Wilki Wilczyn, KS Bielawianka Bester Bielawa, MKST Astra Nowa Sól, MUKS Huragan Wołomin, LUMKS Kasztelan Rozsza, NTS Trójka Nakło, Juve Głuchołazy, MKS Olavia Oława, AZS University of Zielona Góra. The second league, unlike the first and Plusliga, has several competition groups. There are 56 teams that divide into 6 groups of nine and ten teams. They are arranged according to the nearest neighboring towns. The league is commonly called "semi-amateur" because players receive a small payment for Personality profile of Polish Volleyball players – a case study of players at various sports levels 49 representing the club and this is not the only source of income. Training in the second league usually takes place 3 to 5 times a week, once a day. The third group that participated in the research were players participating in the third indoor volleyball league games. The age range of these athletes was between 17 and 35 years old, and vocational to higher education. Personality inventories were completed by volleyballers from the following clubs: KS Gwardia Wrocław, TS Faurecia Volley Jelcz Laskowice, SMS Olimp Oborniki Śląskie, Tygrysy Strzelin, UKS SMS Wybicki Kielce, MKS Pogoń Góra, MKS ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle. Unlike the previously mentioned leagues, each third league team is subject to the relationship of a given province. Only taking first place in the table of a given province will give you a pass to national competitions and the opportunity to fight for promotion to the higher league. The third league is called amateur. Players do not receive any funds and playing is just a pleasure and hobby. Trainings usually take place 3 times a week, once a day. Results Neuroticism (NEU) Basic descriptive data on the neuroticism scale are summarized in Table 1 and illustrated in Figure 1. A statistically significant difference in the neuroticism scale occurred between the players of the first and third league of indoor volleyball (Table 2). Tab. 1. A summary of basic descriptive statistics of the variable neuroticism of the three groups of volleyball players under study. LEAGUE NEU Average Trust -95,00% Trust +95,00% NEU Important NEU Standard deviation NEU Min NEU Maks PS1 4,066667 3,478844 4,654489 30 1,574218 1 8 PS2 4,733333 4,068732 5,397935 30 1,779836 1 8 PS3 5,366667 4,727511 6,005822 30 1,711691 1 9 Average 4,722222 4,354689 5,089755 90 1,754787 1 9 50 Paweł Piepiora, Klaudia Kaśków Fig. 1. Graph for the variable neuroticism of the three examined groups of volleyball players. Tab.2. Summary of the strength of differences in the scale of neuroticism between the studied groups. Tuckey's RIR test; variable: NEU; Significance at the level p < 0,05 {1} - M=4,0667 {2} - M=4,7333 {3} - M=5,3667 PS1 {1} 0,283398 0,010498 PS2 {2} 0,283398 0,319813 PS3 {3} 0,010498 0,319813 Extroversion (EKS) The basic descriptive data on the extraversion scale are summarized in Table 3 and illustrated in Figure 2. A statistically significant difference in the extraversion scale occurred between the players of the first and third league of indoor volleyball (Table 4). Personality profile of Polish Volleyball players – a case study of players at various sports levels 51 Tab. 3. Summary of basic descriptive statistics of the extraversion of the three examined groups of volleyball players. LEAGUE EKS Average Trust -95,00% Trust +95,00% EKS Important EKS Standard deviation EKS Min EKS Maks PS1 6,966667 6,210365 7,722968 30 2,025413 3 10 PS2 6,666667 5,950529 7,382805 30 1,917853 3 10 PS3 5,9 5,491542 6,308458 30 1,09387 3 8 Average 6,511111 6,140617 6,881605 90 1,768923 3 10 Fig. 2. Graph for the variable extraversion of the three groups of volleyball players under study. Tab.4. Summary of the strength of differences in extraversion between the studied groups. Tuckey's RIR test; variable: EKS; Significance at the level p < 0,05 {1} - M=6,9667 {2} - M=6,6667 {3} - M=5,9000 PS1 {1} 0,780612 0,049631 PS2 {2} 0,780612 0,204899 PS3 {3} 0,049631 0,204899 52 Paweł Piepiora, Klaudia Kaśków Openness to experience (OTW) Basic descriptive data on the scale of openness to experiments are summarized in Table 5 and illustrated in Figure 3. No statistically significant differences were found on the scale of openness to experiments. Due to the value of p = 0.859 higher than the accepted significance level of 0.05 given by the program, it was found that in the three leagues examined the average on the scale of openness to experiments was statistically equal. Post-hoc tests were not needed. Tab. 5. A list of basic descriptive statistics of variable openness to the experiences of the three examined groups of volleyball players. LEAGUE OTW Average Trust -95,00% Trust +95,00% OTW Important OTW Standard deviation OTW Min OTW Maks PS1 4,2333 3,639408 4,827259 30 1,590561 1 7 PS2 4,1333 3,462969 4,803698 30 1,795268 1 8 PS3 4,3666 3,790826 4,942507 30 1,542129 2 9 Average 4,2444 3,902933 4,585955 90 1,630545 1 9 Fig. 3. Graph for variable openness to the experiences of the three examined volleyball groups. Personality profile of Polish Volleyball players – a case study of players at various sports levels 53 Agreeableness (UGD) Basic descriptive data on the agreeableness scale are summarized in Table 6 and illustrated in Figure 4. No statistically significant differences were found on the agreeableness scale. The value of p = 0.527 given by the program was greater than the adopted level of significance of 0.05, it was found that in the three leagues examined the mean in the agreeableness scale was statistically equal. Post-hoc testing was not necessary. Tab. 6. A list of basic descriptive statistics of the variable agreeableness of the three groups of volleyball players under study. LEAGUE UGD Average Trust -95,00% Trust +95,00% UGD Important UGD Standard deviation UGD Min UGD Maks PS1 5,666667 4,957274 6,376059 30 1,899788 2 9 PS2 5,5 4,794572 6,205428 30 1,889171 2 9 PS3 5,133333 4,462969 5,803698 30 1,795268 2 9 Average 5,433333 5,044907 5,82176 90 1,854542 2 9 Fig. 4. Diagram for the variable agreeableness of the three examined groups of volleyball players. 54 Paweł Piepiora, Klaudia Kaśków Conscientiousness (SUM) Basic descriptive data on the conscientiousness scale are summarized in Table 7 and illustrated in Figure 5. A statistically significant difference in the conscientiousness scale occurred between the players of the first and third league of indoor volleyball (Table 8). Tab. 7. A list of basic descriptive statistics of the variable conscientiousness of the three groups of volleyball players under study. LEAGUE UGD Average Trust -95,00% Trust +95,00% UGD Important UGD Standard deviation UGD Min UGD Maks PS1 7,466667 6,959648 7,973685 30 1,357821 5 10 PS2 6,7 6,019551 7,380449 30 1,822276 3 10 PS3 6,433333 5,847559 7,019107 30 1,568732 3 10 Average 6,866667 6,523875 7,209458 90 1,636659 3 10 Fig. 5. Diagram for the variable conscientiousness of the three examined groups of volleyball players. Personality profile of Polish Volleyball players – a case study of players at various sports levels 55 Tab.8. Summary of the strength of differences in the conscientiousness scale between the examined groups. Tuckey's RIR test; variable: SUM; Significance at the level p < 0,05 {1} - M=7,4667 {2} - M=6,7000 {3} - M=6,4333 PS1 {1} 0,155916 0,036790 PS2 {2} 0,155916 0,794177 PS3 {3} 0,036790 0,794177 Conclusions The conducted research shows that there are statistical significant differences between volleyballers from the first and third league of indoor volleyball in terms of neuroticism, extraversion and conscientiousness. In terms of neuroticism, the former have a significantly lower scale than the latter. This confirms that players who take part in the third division are more susceptible to stressful situations, have less control over their ambitions and their goals are much more abstract. In the case of extraversion, first league players have a noticeably statistically significant difference in relation to volleyballers from the third league. Their rate was definitely the highest. This means that this group is characterized by the greatest optimism, is the friendliest and feels positives from the world. The last significant statistical difference between the examined groups is diligence. The first league reached the highest rate on this scale. This shows that these players are characterized by greater punctuality, willpower and motivation to act, they are more professional in what they do than volleyballers from the third league. Noticeable changes in the above planes may be caused by the fact that the first league is a professional and professional league. Players are subject to club agreements and monthly settlements. However, the third league is an amateur league, which, apart from the possibility of practicing this discipline, does not bring any profit to the player and the player is not associated with the club by any contract. In the case of openness to experience and agreeableness, there were no significant differences between the subjects. 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