Sports injuries can be a major source of both personal and financial
hardship, and Kerr and Goss (1996) in their article “The Effects of a
Stress Management Program on Injuries and Stress Levels” have conducted
important research that has implications for the health and welfare
of many athletes. Besides suggesting some potential avenues for reducing
the incidence of injury, Kerr and Goss have presented a study that offers
an opportunity to discuss some issues related to statistical inference, null
hypothesis testing, power, and the requirement that p be less than .05.
Past research and writings on psychosocial factors and athletic injury
have focused on two major areas: antecedents and consequences of injury
(Brewer, 1994; Petrie, 1992; Williams, Hogan, & Andersen, 1993). The
literature has been noticeably bereft of studies directed at what most sport
psychologists, coaches, athletic trainers, and athletes would probably consider
the central issue, and that is reducing injury risk in sport. In 1991,
Davis presented results that suggested a simple program of progressive
relaxation could decrease injury rates. In turn, it was 5 years before another
such injury prevention study appeared in the literature (i.e., Kerr &
Goss, 1996).