Ontological and Methodological Reflections on Research in the Field of Competitive Psychology

This study conducts a thorough analysis of the key challenges in competitive psychology research and proposes a series of improvement strategies from ontological and methodological perspectives to enhance the reliability, relevance, practicality, and ecological validity of the research. With regard to research participants, it is essential to flexibly select and integrate “third-person”and “first-person” research perspectives, as well as to clarify the application targets of the research subjects and outcomes to ensure the applicability of the research results. In terms of research design, it is advocated that design should shift from being “methodcentered” to “problem-centered”. It is recommended to use randomized controlled trial designs as much as possible to provide stronger evidence for evidence-based practice and practical applications. The importance of interdisciplinary collaborative research is emphasized to gain a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of athletes’ psychology and behavior. Furthermore, the article discusses the shift from “laboratory experiments” to “field experiments,” highlighting the advantages of long-term intervention over short-term intervention in enhancing the external validity and practical value of the research.