Journal Article

Authors' Response

Snedden, Traci R, McGuine, Timothy A, Nelson, Evan O, Bell, David Robert, Watson, Andrew M, Kliethermes, Stephanie A

2021

Overview

When strong empirical evidence is lacking, a Delphi consensus method is commonly used to create agreement on a definition.2 Doing so allows for consistent approaches to evaluate the relationships between sport specialization and outcomes, predictors of sport specialization, and the efficacy of interventions to mitigate any identified negative consequences. The Delphi method is an accepted empirical technique used to gain consensus through expert opinion on a real-world problem.7 Sport specialization, a unique type of sport participation, likely requires a complex systems approach to understand how the multitude of relationships between direct and indirect risk factors result in some athletes demonstrating specialized behaviors.8 Youth athletic programs, coaches, parents, and athletes across the globe will be best served by contemporary approaches because sport specialization is a complex phenomenon that cannot be explained using reductionism. Psychometrically sound, patient-reported assessments are often used to assess unobservable, latent traits, including measures of health status.12 Researchers10,12 who have established standards specific to developing novel patient-reported assessments recommend starting with an established conceptual definition to avert future confusion or problems. 13 Similarly, we rely on universally accepted definitions when we ask athletes to report the degree to which they experience “sensitivity to light” or “feeling like in a fog” during the evaluation of concussion.14 Content validity standards stipulate that careful attention must be paid to the interpretation of the instructions, each item, and all response options when operationalizing patient-reported assessment tools.15 4.

• Publisher: National Athletic Trainers Association
• Subject: Athletes / Coaches & managers / Content Validity / Definitions / Delphi method / Delphi Technique / Editing / Inhalants / Measurement techniques / Research methodology / Scientific Principles / Specialization / Sports / Systems Approach / Validity / World Problems