How gender and task difficulty affect a sport-protective response in young adults

An investigation into the influence of context effects on crowd exit selection under gender difference in indoor evacuation

Introduction

Exit selection is crucial in indoor emergency evacuation. Domestic and foreign scholars have found that exit choice behavior is influenced by three factors: environmental factors, social interactions, and individual internal factors. Previous studies have shown that in addition to a single environmental factor affecting exit decisions, the influence of other available exit options in the context can ultimately lead to a reversal of exit decisions -The context effect. However, the impact of context effects on exit decisions in emergency situations has not been thoroughly explored. Therefore, this article identifies three basic independent variables: context effects, crowd flows, and gender differences, to study the exit decisions of different gender groups facing different crowd flows, as well as how context effects affect existing exit decisions.

Methods

In this paper, we used virtual reality technology to construct an indoor fire scene and designed a total of 15 virtual experiments with different crowd distribution or context effects. 131 participants were divided into two groups, male and female, and their exit decisions were observed under different crowd flows and contextual effects.

Results

The research results show that: 1) Both men and women have an innate preference to avoid crowded exits, and the proportion of following crowd evacuation significantly decreases when there are crowded crowds in the scene; 2) The exit decisions of female participants are more influenced by the crowd, while men tend to be more influenced by context effects when evacuating independently; 3) The context effects on exit decisions in emergency situations is statistically significant, and this performance is more significant in the male population. Further analysis reveals that similarity effects have a more significant impact on exit decisions than attraction effects.

Discussions

These findings provide deeper insights into the exit choice behavior of the population and may contribute to the design of safe exits in indoor buildings. In addition, this article emphasizes the importance of context effects and provides a foundation for future research.

Available response time for female pitchers in youth through collegiate fastpitch softball

The purpose of this study was to quantify the relationship between age and available response time in fastpitch softball for pitchers, which is necessary to evaluate the efficacy of interventions designed to decrease player response times and determine if player protective equipment are necessary. High speed video was used to measure ball impact location relative to home plate, swing speed, and ball exit velocity of 588 swings taken by 87 female fastpitch softball players 9 to 24 years old. Available response time considered age-appropriate ball aerodynamics, field dimensions, ball impact location, and pitcher advancement during pitch delivery. Mean available response times were reported for each age group, with the lowest observed for collegiate-aged participants at 326 ms. Available response time was observed to decrease as age increased, but did not undergo rapid change between any age groups. In light of prior investigations regarding response time in softball, the results of this study suggest older participants may not have enough time to execute a protective manoeuvre.

Factors influencing ball-player impact probability in youth baseball

Background:

Altering the weight of baseballs for youth play has been studied out of concern for player safety. Research has shown that decreasing the weight of baseballs may limit the severity of both chronic arm and collision injuries. Unfortunately, reducing the weight of the ball also increases its exit velocity, leaving pitchers and nonpitchers with less time to defend themselves. The purpose of this study was to examine impact probability for pitchers and nonpitchers.

Hypothesis:

Reducing the available time to respond by 10% (expected from reducing ball weight from 142 g to 113 g) would increase impact probability for pitchers and nonpitchers, and players’ mean simple response time would be a primary predictor of impact probability for all participants.

Study Design:

Nineteen subjects between the ages of 9 and 13 years performed 3 experiments in a controlled laboratory setting: a simple response time test, an avoidance response time test, and a pitching response time test.

Methods:

Each subject performed these tests in order. The simple reaction time test tested the subjects’ mean simple response time, the avoidance reaction time test tested the subjects’ ability to avoid a simulated batted ball as a fielder, and the pitching reaction time test tested the subjects’ ability to avoid a simulated batted ball as a pitcher.

Results:

Reducing the weight of a standard baseball from 142 g to 113 g led to a less than 5% increase in impact probability for nonpitchers. However, the results indicate that the impact probability for pitchers could increase by more than 25%.

Conclusion:

Pitching may greatly increase the amount of time needed to react and defend oneself from a batted ball.

Clinical Relevance:

Impact injuries to youth baseball players may increase if a 113-g ball is used.