Sensitivity of the Activation-Deactivation Check List to Activation during Physical Activities

Abstract

Although the Thayer Activation-Deactivation Check List has been used for the phenomenological report of activation levels during cognitive and fine motor tasks, more vigorous tasks such as those in industry and athletics have not ben investigated. Hence, the check list was used to compare General Activation during five activities with different subjects and varied energy requirements: a repetitive manipulative industrial-type task, a recreational team game, an elite athletic competition, a demanding individual sport for novice competitors, and for contrast, a relaxation session. The results indicated construct validity in that the relaxation session, monotonous industrial task, and sitting in the laboratory showed lower activation scores than participation in recreational or competitive athletics. Replications using both the standard form and short form of this check list under differing conditions gave similar results. Thayer's check list is an efficient and economical tool for the measurement of self-reported levels of activation within subjects and across field situations.