Improving the reporting of sport imagery interventions with TIDieR

Abstract

Imagery is a popular technique for enhancing learning, performance, and rehabilitation in sport, but mixed evidence exists to its effectiveness. There have been wide variations in the methods used to deliver imagery interventions and the level of detail reported, making it difficult to draw comparisons across studies. Moreover, there have been few efforts to date to replicate the findings of previous intervention studies. The aim of this paper is to articulate the need for standardized reporting of imagery interventions, which can be achieved through application of the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR; Hoffmann et al., 2014). The TIDieR is a 12-item checklist to provide fuller, more accurate and standardized reporting so that these future imagery interventions can be more effectively delivered in practice or replicated in research. We use the TIDieR to describe a personalized guided imagery intervention for improving student-athletes’ regulatory responses to competitive anxiety. Overall, this paper offers practical and evidence-based guidance for researchers designing imagery interventions and recommendations to enable journal editors and reviewers to make easier judgements about rigor. It may also serve as a pedagogical resource for students and trainee sport psychologists undertaking applied research as part of their training.