College
Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences
Date of Last Revision
2026-05-07 06:08:45
Major
Psychology
Honors Course
Honors Research in Psychology
Number of Credits
3
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Date of Expected Graduation
Spring 2026
Abstract
Despite widespread agreement in esports communities that tilt leads to poorer performance, this belief remains largely anecdotal. Most existing research relies on self-reported experiences of tilt and perceived decreases in performance, with very little to no empirical evidence supporting this consensus. This project seeks to provide the first systematic, within-person investigation of how varying levels of tilt relate to performance across competitive matches over time. By using post-match surveys and tracking objective performance indicators ( Match win/loss), the study will assess whether tilt consistently predicts poorer outcomes or if the relationship is more complex and nuanced, for example, a possible curvilinear relationship, where performance improves after a certain point of tilt. This approach will generate the first empirical evidence linking self- and team-reported tilt to measurable in-game performance, helping determine whether tilt truly hinders performance to the extent commonly believed.
Research Sponsor
Dr. Andrea Snell
First Reader
Dr. James Diefendorff
Second Reader
Professor Stephanie Davis-Dieringer
Honors Faculty Advisor
Dr. Kevin Kaut
Proprietary and/or Confidential Information
No
Community Engaged Scholarship
No
Recommended Citation
Steyn, Rowan D., "The Tilt Continuum: Investigating the Relationship Between Emotions and Peformance in Esports." (2026). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 2188.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/2188