Table tennis and cognitive skills: A study on attention and decision making in sports science students

Nurullah Çelik, Ceren Bolat and Ahmet Dönmez

PLOS ONE, 2026, vol. 21, issue 7, 1-10

Abstract: This research aimed to reveal the effects of table tennis on students’ careful decision-making and concentration skills. The study employed a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest control group design with groups assigned through random allocation. The study was carried out with a total of 28 students (Xage = 20.65 ± 1.70), 14 of whom were studying at the department of physical education and sports of a state university and taking an elective table tennis course (Xage 19.79 ± 1.89) and 14 who did not take a table tennis course (Xage 21.43 ± 1.16). The data in the research were obtained using the “Personal Information Form”, “D2 Attention Test” and “Melbourne Decision Making Scale”. Analysis of variance (2x2 ANOVA) was used for repeated measures in the analysis of data. According to the research findings, an increase was observed in the pre-test–post-test mean scores for concentration and careful decision-making in the experimental group. Similarly, a smaller increase was observed in the control group. Analysis results revealed that the time effect was significant for the variables of concentration performance (F = 16.328; p

Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:pone00:0353175

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0353175

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