COMPARATIVE STUDY ON PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILES OF UNIVERSITY AND NATIONAL BASKETBALL MEN PLAYERS

The present study examined and compared the psychological profiles of university- and national-level male basketball players in India, with a focus on incentive motivation. A total of 150 players participated in the study, comprising 100 university players and 50 national players. For statistical comparison, 50 university players were randomly selected to match the national group. Participants aged 18–25 years were assessed using the Incentive Motivation Inventory (IMI), which measures seven dimensions of incentive motivation: excellence, power, sensation, independence, success, aggression, and affiliation. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the independent samples t-test. The results revealed that university players scored significantly higher in excellence, whereas national players scored significantly higher in power. No significant differences were observed in the remaining motivational dimensions. Overall, both groups demonstrated average to above-average levels of incentive motivation, indicating similar psychological profiles. The findings suggest that although the two groups differ in selected motivational attributes, their overall psychological characteristics are largely comparable and may contribute to competitive basketball performance.