Assessing Implicit Beliefs in Elite Young Soccer Players: A Rasch Model Analysis of the Conceptions of the Nature of Athletic Ability Questionnaire-2

The importance of studying physical education and sports among young people has grown, necessitating the development of a valid and reliable instrument for measuring relevant constructs. This study was aimed at deriving empirical evidence of the validity and reliability of the revised Conceptions of the Nature of Athletic Ability Questionnaire (CNAAQ-2), which is intended to evaluate young people’s implicit beliefs about athletic ability. The questionnaire was administered to 299 middle and high school soccer players, whose responses were examined using analytical steps based on the Rasch model. The Rasch model provided precise information on the psychometric properties of the 12-item CNAAQ-2 and enabled us to assess the practicality of each item in a sports setting. The questionnaire has a unidimensional structure and features the appropriate use of a five-point Likert scale. However, further development is necessary, as some of the items cannot capture low perceived levels of athletic abilities.