Investigation of Prevalence of Superstitious Beliefs among Female Table Tennis Players

Superstition is a belief, not based on human reason or scientific knowledge, that future events may be influenced by one's behaviour in some magical or mystical way. The word superstition is often used to refer to a religion not practiced by the majority of a given society regardless of whether the prevailing religion contains alleged superstitions. The mass media and popular sports literature suggest that magical practices are quite prevalent in high intensity sports. It is clear that many team ritual and ceremonies unite the team members in a manner analogous to religious rites that promote cohesion among the believers, for example, team players, communal meals, a common hotel on the road, team practice, and attendance at a movie the night before contest, and common street clothes worn to and from a contest. As we know, superstition is practiced by players of different games, for assessing the behaviour and attitude of female table tennis players, a definite and appropriate study is essential. An investigation of superstitious beliefs among female table tennis players serves this purpose in a meaningful way. Therefore, observing the felt requirement, we consider it necessary to attempt “An Investigation of Prevalence of Superstitious Beliefs among Female Table Tennis Players”.

This investigation of prevalence of superstitious beliefs was used to assess the behaviour and attitude of female table tennis players. For this purpose to examine the prevalence of superstitious beliefs among female table tennis players, 50 female table tennis players of different universities and different districts of Madhya Pradesh were randomly selected to serve as subjects. The superstitious beliefs and behavior scale was originally prepared by Hans G. Buhramann, B. Brouch and Maxwell K. Zaugg on seven areas containing forty items. On the basis of original scale, a new scale was constructed by consulting various aspects of psychology and sociology. The questionnaire was administered individually to all the subjects. All the subjects had answered the questionnaire separately, without consulting others. To analysis the data, collected by administering the questionnaire to all the subjects during Table Tennis for each selected characteristics and the responses of the questionnaire were also analysed in Percentage to perceive the prevalence of superstitious beliefs among female table tennis players.

The responses of the female table tennis players regarding the Superstitious Beliefs about Appearance and Clothing are presented in Pie # 1: Pie # 1 The pie # 1 indicates that 27% of female table tennis players most often believe on Superstition with respect to Appearance and Clothing. The responses of the subjects regarding the Superstitious Beliefs before the Competition are cited below: Pie # 2 According to Pie # 2, 25% of players of female table tennis players often supported these statements concerned with Superstitious Beliefs before the Competition. The responses of the subjects regarding the Superstitious Beliefs prior to the Match are presented below: Pie # 3 The Pie # 3 depicts that 30% of female table tennis players have responded to most often categories of responses against the statements about Superstitious Beliefs prior to the Match. The responses of the subjects regarding the Superstitious Beliefs during the Match are presented below in Pie # 4: Pie # 4 With respect to the statements regarding Superstitious Belief during the match was been considered most often by 28% of female table tennis players. The responses of the subjects regarding the Religious Superstitious Beliefs are presented in Pie # 5: Pie # 5

beliefs. The responses of the subjects regarding the Miscellaneous Superstitious Beliefs are presented in Pie # 6:

Pie # 6 shows that 25% of female table tennis players have responded by ticking the often category with respect to Miscellaneous Superstitious Beliefs. The responses of the subjects regarding the all statements of Superstitious Beliefs with respect to different categories are presented in Pie # 7:

Pertaining to the all statements of questionnaire, Pie # 7 depicts that a greater percentage (26.2%) of female table tennis players have responded most often about Superstitious Beliefs. These findings revealed the prevalence of superstitious beliefs among female table tennis players since the responses have showed significant results.

DISCUSSION:

The prevalence of superstitious beliefs among female table tennis players was believed to be because of myths, social customs and traditions and to some extent to supernatural powers. They believe that it beliefs which are common among the population since the time immemorial and also generously reflect in the behaviour of female table tennis players.

REFERENCES:

Elden E. Snyder and Elmer A. Spreizer (1978). “The Religious Dimensions of Sport” Social Aspects of Sport (Englewood Cliffs, N. J. Prentice Hall Inc. Herbert S. FitzGibbon II and Jeffery N. Bairstow (1979). “The Complete Racquet Sports Player” (Simon and Schuster, New York). Jared L. Bleak and Christina M. Fredrick (1998). Journal of Sport Behavior, Vol. 21, No.1. Marie L. (1976). “The Dynamic Relationship of Prayer and Play,” Dissertation Abstracts International, 37:4 (October 1976): 2071-A. Sushila Mehta (1980). “Superstition and Taboos”, A Study of Rural Sociology in India (New Delhi, S. Chand and Company Ltd., Ram Nagar). William H. Freeman (1980). Physical Education and Sports in a Changing Society (Delhi Publication). www.psychologyofsports.com/guest/superstitions2.htm - 23k.

International Umpire, ITTF Racket Controller, Assistant Professor, Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education, Gwalior (MP) E-Mail – pushppurashwani@gmail.com