Notational Analyis - a brief introduction

An emerging issue within the science of Performance Analysis regards how widely criticised the aera is when scholars from other disciplines look at research, particularly research into notational analysis. Hughes and Franks (2004) defines notational analysis as a procedure that defines and analyses patterns within data that can be used to infer or make decisions within a discipline.

Notational analysis often uses defined key performance indicators (KPIs) in order to tally and understand data. These KPIs must be operationally defined in order to increase inter rater reliability and ensure valid research is carried out.

For example, an "off target shot" in Football is clearly defined by Opta (2021) as "a shot that goes over or wide of the goal without touching another player, would've gone over or wide if not contacted by an opposition player, or a shot that hits the frame of the goal without the ball going in the goal."

This clear definition allows multiple researchers to analyse instances of shots going off target with clarity between researchers, thus increasing inter-rater reliability.

One of the main criticisms lie in the fact that notational analysis is often seen as too descriptive, rather than being rigourous, and in the past, the area has been dominated by low quality research. (Hughes and Franks 2004). For example, notational analysis is fantastic for analysing what has happened, but often fails to providing the reasoning as to why a particular instance has occured.

However, there are many researchers in the field of Performance Analysis that utilise notational analysis to great effects. For example, Callaway and Ellis (2012) use notational analysis to great effect in their research regarding scoring zones in the field of archery, with that particular piece of research featuring extensive tests of reliability and validity.

References Callaway, J. A., & Broomfield, A. S. (2012). Inter-Rater Reliability and Criterion Validity of Scatter Diagrams as an Input Method for Marksmanship Analysis: Computerised Notational Analysis for Archery. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 12(2), 291–310. https://doi.org/10.1080/24748668.2012.11868601

Hughes, M., & Franks, I. (2004). Notational analysis - a review of the literature. In M. Hughes & I. Franks (Eds.), Notational Analysis of Sport: Systems for Better Coaching and Performance in Sport (2nd ed., p. 58). Routledge.

Opta Event Definitions. (2021, January 5). Stats Perform. https://www.statsperform.com/opta-event-definitions/