Abstract:

The present study aims to examine the relationship between the self-efficacy and cognitive flexibility of karate referees. A total of 138 referees, 88 male and 50 female, working in the Turkish Karate Federation participated in the study. The mean age of the referees was 38.09±13.43 years, mean body weight was 74.33±13.46 kg, mean height was 170.23±8.09 cm, and mean active refereeing period was 9.95±8.84 years. The Referee Self-Efficacy Scale developed by Myers et al. (2012) and adapted into Turkish by Karaçam and Pulur (2017) as well as the Cognitive Flexibility Scale developed by Bilgin (2009) were applied to the referees. Independent Samples T-test, One-Way ANOVA test, Pearson correlation test and descriptive statistics were applied to the data obtained. According to the results of the Pearson correlation analysis, a significant positive correlation was found between the referees' self-efficacy and cognitive flexibility levels (p<0.05). The results of the independent samples t-test showed that there was a significant difference in the level of self-efficacy between the males and females (p<0.05). Moreover, self-efficacy level was found to be significant in relation to refereeing class (p<0.05). In conclusion, it was determined in the study that the self-efficacy levels of the karate referees increased in parallel with their cognitive flexibility levels, the male participants had higher self-efficacy levels compared to the female participants, and self-efficacy levels increased in parallel with refereeing class.

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