A comparative study of risk-taking, autonomy, endurance, internal control and performance levels for scuba divers, vintage car racers and control group males

The problem. The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk-taking behavior, autonomy, endurance, internal control and performance levels of scuba divers, vintage car racers and the control group to relate significant difference.;Method. A comparison study was conducted, and 30 male scuba divers, 30 vintage car racers and 30 control group subjects aged 25 to 65 years were administered four test instruments. The Edwards Personal Preference Schedule was used to assess autonomy and endurance, the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire was used for the purpose of measuring risk-taking behavior, and the Rotter Internal-External Locus of Control scale measured internal locus of control. The Performance Level Questionnaire, developed by Researcher, was administered to compare the psychological variables between scuba divers and vintage car racers.;Results. The statistical analysis of the "test" scores was the Analysis of Variance. Six of the seven main variables had significant F-ratios: Sixteen Personality Factors (Venturesome, Assertive, and Imaginative), Edwards Personal Preference Schedule (Autonomy and Endurance), and Rotter I-E scale. Scuba divers had significantly higher means for performance level than vintage car racers, and almost 50 percent more dives than vintage car racers had races. These findings correspond well to constructs of sports personality and performance derived from earlier research.