SPRT2271: Advanced Sport and Exercise Psychology

• Introduction to Sport and Exercise Psychology SPRT1261

• None

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• To develop an advanced understanding of the psychological principles that underpin sport and exercise engagement and participation;
• To develop a critical awareness of the strengths and limitations of psychological research and theory;
• To translate and apply this knowledge and understanding in a real world context;
• To develop the skills required for effective one-to-one psychological consultations.

• Indicative content will include:
• Psychological theories that underpin exercise and physical activity participation (motivation; attitude theories; theory of reasoned action; theory of planned behaviour; transtheoretical theory, etc.);
• Controversies linked with psychological methods and testing with athletes;
• Measurement issues in applied exercise psychology;
• Stress and resilience in sport and exercise contexts;
• Psychological benefits of physical activity: mechanisms & hypotheses; mental health & well-being;
• Evidence based interventions in sport (performance enhancement) and exercise (behaviour change and activity promotion);
• Professional practice: using real-world scenarios to consider and problem solve athlete issues, and negative effects of chronic exercise;
• Professional practice: implementing intervention strategies to enhance performance or developing a strategy to encourage behaviour change.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• Explained how psychological theory and research can aid understanding of behaviour and wellbeing in sport and exercise contexts.
• Demonstrated understanding of the challenges of sport and exercise psychology research, theory and practice.

Subject-specific Skills:

• Analysed determinants of behaviour and wellbeing in sport and exercise contexts.
• Demonstrated the application of psychological theory and research to design interventions.

Key Skills:

• Delivered and engaged in reflective practice concerning applied psychological consultancy.
• Demonstrated clear verbal communication skills

• Staff-led content, including individual and group-based activities, will introduce students to the basic concepts & key theories underpinning exercise participation.
• Interactive group activities will enable students to discuss the relative merits of specific theories, assessment tools and empirical research;
• Independently students will be required to invest time in directed reading, research activities, group-based activity preparation, and study tasks;
• Assessment is structured around consultations the students will undertake; one with an athlete, and one with an inactive individual. For each case study, students will plan and justify an approach, interpret the data received using their knowledge of psychological theory and research, and form recommendations for further intervention support.
• Formative feedback will be provided (mock oral discussion) in seminars as a series of check-ins to assess progress and preparation for summative assessments.
• The first summative will include a written portfolio assessing the needs of the selected client. A second summative will include an oral discussion to discuss their case studies in depth, providing a theory- and evidence-base for their interpretations, recommendations and decision making during the process.

Provided in-seminar feedback with feedback from seminar leader through a series of check-in activities to assess progress and preparation for summative assessment.

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