Visualizing Individual Dynamics: The Case of a Talented Adolescent

Research on talent and performance development has primarily focused on inter-individual differences. However, research suggests that performance and the underlying determinants change over time, in an individual-specific dynamic way. This chapter illustrates a method to measure, understand, and visualize the performance- and psychosocial dynamics of a talented adolescent athlete. During one season, a talented tennis player filled out an online diary questionnaire twice a week. We visualized the results using R-scripts that we made openly available. This facilitated the interpretation of the athlete’s performance- and psychosocial dynamics, and how these are influenced by particular events in the athlete’s life.

     Visualizing Individual Dynamics: The Case of a Talented Adolescent

     Psychological development in adolescence: Insights from he dynamic systems approach

    Joske K. Van der Sluis, Steffie van der Steen, Gert Stulp, Ruud J. R. Den Hartigh

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Abstract

Research on talent and performance development has primarily focused on inter-individual differences. However, research suggests that performance and the underlying determinants change over time, in an individual-specific dynamic way. This chapter illustrates a method to measure, understand, and visualize the performance- and psychosocial dynamics of a talented adolescent athlete. During one season, a talented tennis player filled out an online diary questionnaire twice a week. We visualized the results using R-scripts that we made openly available. This facilitated the interpretation of the athlete’s performance- and psychosocial dynamics, and how these are influenced by particular events in the athlete’s life.