a Queen's University , Kingston , Ontario , Canada.
Eur J Sport Sci. 2013;13(6):630-7. doi: 10.1080/17461391.2013.775352. Epub 2013 Mar 5.
Exemplary scientific methods describe concepts and provide theories for further testing. For the field of relative age effects (RAEs) in sport, the scientific method appears to be limited to description. The purpose of this paper is to provide a theoretical model to explain RAEs in sport, which researchers can use to test the effects, as well as to generate new hypotheses and recommendations. Herein, we argue that social agents have the largest influence on RAEs. Specifically, we propose that parents influence RAEs through Matthew effects, coaches influence RAEs through Pygmalion effects and athletes influence RAEs through Galatea effects. Integrating these three theories, we propose a model that explains RAEs through these various social agents. This paper provides a theoretical foundation from which researchers can further understand, explain and eventually use to create policies aimed at limiting the negative effect of relative age in sport.
典范的科学方法描述了概念并提供了进一步检验的理论。对于运动领域的相对年龄效应（RAEs），科学方法似乎仅限于描述。本文的目的是提供一个理论模型来解释运动中的 RAEs，研究人员可以使用该模型来检验这些效应，以及产生新的假设和建议。在这里，我们认为社会代理人对 RAEs 的影响最大。具体来说，我们提出父母通过马太效应影响 RAEs，教练通过皮格马利翁效应影响 RAEs，运动员通过加拉提亚效应影响 RAEs。整合这三个理论，我们提出了一个通过各种社会代理人解释 RAEs 的模型。本文提供了一个理论基础，研究人员可以从中进一步理解、解释，并最终用于制定旨在限制运动中相对年龄负面影响的政策。
