Exploring the Synergistic Effects of Virtual Reality and Retrogressive Imagery on Basketball Free Throw Performance and Self-efficacy Among University Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial

A Randomized Controlled Trial Was Conducted With Participants Divided Into Three Groups: RETI, VR, and a Control Group. The RETI Group Visualized Successful FT Scenarios, the VR Group Practiced FTs in a Simulated Game Environment, and the Control Group Continued Regular Practice. Measurements Were Taken Before and After the Interventions Using Standard FT Performance Tests and the FTSE Questionnaire. Statistical Analyses, Including Mixed Factorial ANOVA, Were Performed to Evaluate the Effectiveness of the Interventions.

This research contributes to the growing body of evidence supporting the use of mental training techniques in sports. By demonstrating the effectiveness of RETI and VR in improving FT performance and FTSE, this study provides valuable insights for coaches, athletes, and sports psychologists.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: VR; RETI; FTSE
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Retrogressive imagery (RETI); Behavioral: Virtual Reality (VR)

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 45
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Malaysia
  • Kelantan
    • Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia, 16150
      • Universiti Sains Malaysia

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

participants to be university students aged 17 to 23 years, with the ability to read and communicate in Mandarin.

Exclusion Criteria:

students with visual, auditory, or other motor impairments

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Retrogressive imagery (RETI); RETI protocol was implemented over eight weeks, gradually simplifying the imagery script to focus on essential aspects of the free-throw (FT) shooting technique.	Behavioral: Retrogressive imagery (RETI); Week 1-2: Participants were asked to imagine a complete version of the FT imagery script included: a) Visualizing the court lines, the basket, and themselves standing at the free-throw line, focusing on their shooting technique. b) Imagining teammates and opponents positioned around the key, noting the main colors in the scene c) Imagining the coach standing on the sideline encouraging them, and paying attention to the sounds of the audience and the cheers from a close friend in the stands. d) Visualizing a high-pressure situation, experiencing the emotions felt during a real game with one second left on the clock, trailing by one point, with the game's outcome depending on their FT shot. Week 3-4: The exception of content "d"from the full script. Week 5-6: The exception of content "c""d"from the full script. Week 7-8: The exception of content "b""c""d"from the full script.; Behavioral: Virtual Reality (VR); Standing on a lifelike full-sized basketball court, they observe smooth flooring and clear markings. Teammates and opponents don variously colored uniforms, while referees stand ready at the sidelines. Referees position teammates and opponents around the basket as participants feel the texture and weight of the basketball in their hands, as if gripping it for real. The sounds of cheering spectators and encouraging shouts from teammates and coaches further enhance their focus. Participants adjust their stance, noticing beads of sweat trickling down their arms as they prepare for the FT. With bent knees, they ready themselves for the shot, exerting every ounce of their strength as the ball leaves their hands and soars towards the basket. As the ball accurately swishes through the net, the crowd erupts into thunderous applause, and the scoreboard's change in score brings an overwhelming sense of joyous victory.
Experimental: Virtual Reality (VR); Using Virtual Reality (VR) technology, participants are fully immersed in an intense basketball game experience.	Behavioral: Retrogressive imagery (RETI); Week 1-2: Participants were asked to imagine a complete version of the FT imagery script included: a) Visualizing the court lines, the basket, and themselves standing at the free-throw line, focusing on their shooting technique. b) Imagining teammates and opponents positioned around the key, noting the main colors in the scene c) Imagining the coach standing on the sideline encouraging them, and paying attention to the sounds of the audience and the cheers from a close friend in the stands. d) Visualizing a high-pressure situation, experiencing the emotions felt during a real game with one second left on the clock, trailing by one point, with the game's outcome depending on their FT shot. Week 3-4: The exception of content "d"from the full script. Week 5-6: The exception of content "c""d"from the full script. Week 7-8: The exception of content "b""c""d"from the full script.; Behavioral: Virtual Reality (VR); Standing on a lifelike full-sized basketball court, they observe smooth flooring and clear markings. Teammates and opponents don variously colored uniforms, while referees stand ready at the sidelines. Referees position teammates and opponents around the basket as participants feel the texture and weight of the basketball in their hands, as if gripping it for real. The sounds of cheering spectators and encouraging shouts from teammates and coaches further enhance their focus. Participants adjust their stance, noticing beads of sweat trickling down their arms as they prepare for the FT. With bent knees, they ready themselves for the shot, exerting every ounce of their strength as the ball leaves their hands and soars towards the basket. As the ball accurately swishes through the net, the crowd erupts into thunderous applause, and the scoreboard's change in score brings an overwhelming sense of joyous victory.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Free Throw (FT) Shooting Performance	Free throw (FT) are a closed skill technique used for scoring points under practice, field study, or game conditions. Testing was conducted before, during, and after the intervention. FTs are typically awarded to players who are fouled while shooting, and the player takes the shot from behind the FT line, which is 15 feet away from the basket. Each successful FT is worth one point. In this study, to measure shooting accuracy more precisely, we employed the following scoring system: a shot that goes through the basket without touching the rim scores 3 points; a shot that goes in after hitting the rim scores 2 points; a shot that hits the rim but does not go in scores 1 point; and a complete miss scores 0 points. Each testing session comprised two sets of 10 FT shots, with a 15-minute rest period between the sets. The total score for each testing session was calculated by summing the scores from the two sets of 10 shots, resulting in a possible range of 0 to 60.	week 8
Free throw shooting self-efficacy (FTSE)	We utilized the Free-Throw Self-Efficacy (FTSE) scale developed by Fazel (2015) to measure participants' self-efficacy in basketball free-throw shooting, following the microanalytic technique guidelines proposed by Bandura (2006). Participants were asked to imagine taking 10 consecutive free throw and to rate their confidence in successfully making each of these shots. Specifically, they were asked to indicate how certain they were that they could successfully make 1 out of 10, 2 out of 10, and so on, up to 10 out of 10 free throw. Participants rated their confidence on a scale from 0 (completely uncertain) to 10 (very certain).	week 8

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Wu Jiarun

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 5, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 5, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): June 10, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 19, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 19, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): August 22, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 22, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 19, 2024
• Last Verified: August 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: university students; VR; RETI; FTSE
• Other Study ID Numbers: USM/JEPeM/22050298

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No