DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF A MEASURE OF TRUST IN SPORT

Abstract

Many professional athletes have cited team chemistry as an essential factor in producing a winning team and research has shown there are several team variables that positively contribute to team performance (Beauchamp & Eys, 2014). One variable that has lacked considerable research within sport group dynamics literature is trust. The purpose of this research is to develop a sport-specific measure of trust. Procedures followed a typical scale development parameter: (1) an understanding was developed through a literature review of trust in sport and organizational science; (2) a list of items was developed and narrowed through an expert review process and think aloud protocol; and (3) an exploratory factor analysis was conducted to identify the factor structure of the questionnaire based on participants’ responses. Finally, preliminary validation of the Trust in Sport Questionnaire was conducted.