Module JXH-2022:
Psychology of Sport Performance

Module Facts

Run by School of Human and Behavioural Sciences

10.000 Credits or 5.000 ECTS Credits

Semester 1

Organiser: Dr James Hardy

Overall aims and purpose

Increasing media attention and financial investment has been channeled towards the psychological factors facilitating sports performance. The long overdue acceptance of the potential beneficial role of sport psychology has resulted. In this module we will consider factors that can affect sport performance and how they are assessed. Given that training and competing in sport does not occur in a social vacuum, we place an understanding of both individual (e.g., stress, confidence) and team (e.g., group dynamics) factors influencing performance in the sports domain. Such factors form the bedrock of “practicing” sport psychology.

Course content

Topics covered include ...

Stress and performance: multidimensional anxiety theory, cusp catastrophe model

Confidence: self-efficacy, sport confidence, catastrophe model

Group dynamics: roles, team cohesion

Lectures, with small group work will form the basis for the module. Theoretical content will be presented and discussed along with the practical significance of specific theories for performance enhancement. Group work will be used in a variety of ways including problem solving in relation to set scenarios and solution generation. Regular use of the module's blackboard site (e.g., MCQs, reading) will be advantageous to effective learning as would consistent lecture attendance. Lectures will normally last approx. one and a half hours.

Assessment Criteria

threshold

D- Will have demonstrated an acceptable ability to analyse and interpret information in relation to their effect on performance. Will also have a satisfactory understanding of theories covered within the module as well as some knowledge of how to assess certain performance-related factors.

good

C- Will have demonstrated a good ability to analyse and interpret information in relation to their effect on performance. Will also have a good understanding of theories covered within the module as well as a sound knowledge of how to assess certain performance-related factors.

excellent

A- Will have demonstrated an excellent ability to analyse and interpret information in relation to their effect on performance. Will also have an excellent understanding of theories covered within the module as well as an in-depth knowledge of how to assess certain performance-related factors.

Learning outcomes

  1. Analyse and interpret information and identify factors that may affect performance.

  2. Understand how these performance-related factors can be measured.

  3. To be able to link these identified factors to specific theories and models.

  4. Evaluate specific theories and models.

  5. To be able to use reflection skills to better understand how topics are related to the "real" world.

Assessment Methods

Type Name Description Weight
EXAM formal exam

This exam contains a mixture of question styles as well as the analysis of pre-released case study data

 80.00
COURSEWORK anxiety reflection - 1st Nov

A personal reflection of the relevance of anxiety to the student

 10.00
COURSEWORK confidence (29/11) /group dynamics (17/12) reflection

Choice between submitting a personal reflection on either the relevance of confidence to the student or group dynamics. To be submitted after the topic has been completed with a different deadline for each topic's reflection.

 10.00

Teaching and Learning Strategy

Hours
Seminar

This course will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminar, tutorials, and workshops

 4
Lecture

This course will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminar, tutorials, and workshops

 20
Private study

This course will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminar, tutorials, and workshops

 76

Transferable skills

  • Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
  • Numeracy - Proficiency in using numbers at appropriate levels of accuracy
  • Computer Literacy - Proficiency in using a varied range of computer software
  • Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
  • Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
  • Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
  • Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sensitevely with others
  • Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
  • Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.
  • Teamwork - Able to constructively cooperate with others on a common task, and/or be part of a day-to-day working team
  • Mentoring - Able to support, help, guide, inspire and/or coach others
  • Management - Able to utilise, coordinate and control resources (human, physical and/or financial)
  • Argument - Able to put forward, debate and justify an opinion or a course of action, with an individual or in a wider group setting
  • Self-awareness & Reflectivity - Having an awareness of your own strengths, weaknesses, aims and objectives. Able to regularly review, evaluate and reflect upon the performance of yourself and others
  • Leadership - Able to lead and manage, develop action plans and objectives, offer guidance and direction to others, and cope with the related pressures such authority can result in

Subject specific skills

  • research and assess paradigms, theories, principles, concepts and factual information, and apply such skills in explaining and solving problems
  • critically assess and evaluate data and evidence in the context of research methodologies and data sources
  • apply knowledge to the solution of familiar and unfamiliar problems
  • develop a sustained reasoned argument, perhaps challenging previously held assumptions
  • demonstrate effective written and/or oral communication and presentation skills
  • work effectively independently and with others
  • take and demonstrate responsibility for their own learning and continuing personal and professional development
  • self-appraise and reflect on practice
  • develop transferable skills of relevance to careers outside of sport, health and exercise sciences.
  • communicate succinctly at a level appropriate to different audiences.
  • develop knowledge of psychometric instruments
  • accurately interpret case study data
  • develop justifiable and/or evidence-based interventions
  • develop effective learning aids

Resources

Courses including this module

Compulsory in courses:

Optional in courses: