Development of Normative Data for the D2 Attention Test in Athletes from North and Razavi Khorasan Provinces: Differences by Gender, Age and Sport Expertise in Team and Individual Disciplines

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of motor behavior, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Science, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar. Iran.

2 Department of motor behavior, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Science, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran.

10.22059/sshr.2025.393192.1185

Abstract

The D2 Attention Test is widely used to assess attention capacity, particularly in terms of information processing speed and concentration performance. This study aimed to establish normative data for the D2 test among athletes from both team and individual sports, considering gender, sport type, and level of expertise. The sample consisted of 177 male and female athletes aged 14 to 30 from North and Razavi Khorasan provinces. The D2 test was administered, and data were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney U test via SPSS version 23. Percentile ranks were calculated for attention indices based on age, gender, sport experience, and sport type. No significant differences were found across age groups or levels of experience in processing speed, errors, or attention/focus indices (P > 0.05). However, a significant gender difference emerged in error rates (P = 0.008), with female athletes exhibiting fewer errors. Athletes in team sports demonstrated significantly higher processing speed than those in individual sports (P = 0.01).
These findings highlight the importance of considering both gender and sport type when interpreting attentional performance. The results underscore the need for customized cognitive training programs that account for individual differences to optimize athletes’ attentional and cognitive capabilities across sport disciplines.

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