METHODOLOGY

Inspired by peer-reviewed science.

Eight bodies of peer-reviewed sports psychology research have shaped how FLOW XP measures mental performance. The bibliography below is provided for transparency and verification — FLOW XP's own platform is an independent implementation informed by this body of work.

Important — intellectual property

FLOW XP develops its own psychometric implementation, inspired by the peer-reviewed body of sports psychology research referenced on this page. The reference frameworks listed remain the intellectual property of their respective academic authors and journals. FLOW XP does not redistribute, reproduce verbatim, or commercially license any of these third-party instruments. Our own scoring algorithms, dimension architecture, AI report generation, and platform interface are FLOW XP's original intellectual property (Flow XP BV, BE 0669.982.661). Trademarks and copyrights of each reference work belong to their respective owners.

Reference bibliography

  1. TOPS-2

    Test of Performance Strategies (revised)

    Hardy, L., Roberts, R., Thomas, P. R., & Maynard, I. W. (2010)

    Psychology of Sport & Exercise

    What this reference work studies

    Mental strategies athletes use in training and competition: concentration, imagery, activation, relaxation, automaticity, self-talk, goal setting, emotional control.

    View reference on Google Scholar →
  2. ACSI-28

    Athletic Coping Skills Inventory

    Smith, R. E., Schutz, R. W., Smoll, F. L., & Ptacek, J. T. (1995)

    Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology

    What this reference work studies

    Psychological coping skills in sport: coping with adversity, peaking under pressure, goal setting, concentration, freedom from worry, confidence, coachability.

    View reference on Google Scholar →
  3. SMS-II

    Sport Motivation Scale II

    Pelletier, L. G., Rocchi, M. A., Vallerand, R. J., Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2013)

    Psychology of Sport & Exercise

    What this reference work studies

    Continuum of self-determined motivation in sport: intrinsic, integrated, identified, introjected, external regulation, amotivation.

    View reference on Google Scholar →
  4. CART-Q

    Coach-Athlete Relationship Questionnaire (3C+1)

    Jowett, S., & Ntoumanis, N. (2004)

    Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports

    What this reference work studies

    Quality of the coach-athlete relationship across four dimensions: Closeness, Commitment, Complementarity, and Co-orientation.

    View reference on Google Scholar →
  5. LSS

    Leadership Scale for Sports

    Chelladurai, P., & Saleh, S. D. (1980)

    Journal of Sport Psychology

    What this reference work studies

    Coach leadership style across five behaviours: training and instruction, democratic, autocratic, social support, positive feedback.

    View reference on Google Scholar →
  6. EDMCQ-C

    Empowering & Disempowering Motivational Climate Questionnaire (Coach)

    Appleton, P. R., Ntoumanis, N., Quested, E., Viladrich, C., & Duda, J. L. (2016)

    Psychology of Sport & Exercise

    What this reference work studies

    Motivational climate created by the coach: empowering (autonomy support, task-involving, socially supportive) vs disempowering (controlling, ego-involving).

    View reference on Google Scholar →
  7. CBS-S

    Coach Behavior Scale for Sport

    Côté, J., Yardley, J., Hay, J., Sedgwick, W., & Baker, J. (1999)

    Avante

    What this reference work studies

    Athletes' perception of their coach's behaviours: physical training & planning, technical skills, mental preparation, goal-setting, competition strategies, personal rapport, negative personal rapport.

    View reference on Google Scholar →
  8. PCDEs

    Psychological Characteristics of Developing Excellence

    MacNamara, Á., Button, A., & Collins, D. (2010)

    The Sport Psychologist

    What this reference work studies

    Psychological characteristics that support the pursuit of excellence in developing athletes: commitment, focus and distraction control, ability to organise and engage in quality practice, evaluation of performance, coping under pressure, social skills, planning, self-belief.

    View reference on Google Scholar →

Scope of this page

This page is provided for scientific transparency only. FLOW XP does not claim ownership, license, or distribution rights over any of the reference works listed above. No third-party instrument is reproduced or commercially exploited by FLOW XP. For any rights-related enquiry, contact admin@flowxp.eu.