Ball physics and collision mechanics

In “See the Ball, Hit the Ball: Apparent Ball Size is Correlated with Batting Average,” Witt & Proffitt () examine the ways a batter’s perception of the ball’s size impacts batting average. The research question is whether recent positive performance in the sport has a bearing on ball size perception. In other words, when players have been hitting well, do they perceive the ball as being bigger and therefore easier to hit? The textbook points out that research questions should be focused on specific relationships between variables, narrowed down from broader areas of interest.

In this study, the researchers hypothesize the affirmative: players on a good streak, with a high batting average, will perpetuate their streak because they psychologically perceive the ball as being bigger in their field of vision. A bigger ball in the field of vision, even if an illusion, leads to players continuing to hit the ball more frequently than if they perceive the ball as being smaller. The text points out that research hypotheses are partly based on prior literature, and identifying gaps in the literature. The researchers in this case cite from prior literature even if they do not offer a formal review of literature.

The researchers recruited both male and female softball players from a local field, asking people who recently completed a game if they wanted to participate. Informed consent was acquired. In this study, the independent variable is athlete batting average and the dependent variable is perceived size of the ball. Batting average is measured straightforwardly as number of hits divided by the number of times at bat that did “not result in a walk or an error,” (p. 937). The researchers measured the dependent variable, perceived ball size, by having participants view a poster with different circle sizes painted on it. The circles ranged in diameter from 9 cm to 11.8 cm. Researchers note that the actual diameter of a softball is 10cm. In addition to measuring the main dependent variable of perceived ball size, the researchers also measured gender differences and found that males did perceive the ball as being bigger than females. There was no significant difference in batting average between males and females. To analyze the data, the researchers used an analysis of variance statistical test. Results are displayed on an x- and y-axis chart of distribution.