Run by School of Human and Behavioural Sciences

10.000 Credits or 5.000 ECTS Credits

Semester 1

Organiser: Dr James Hardy

Applied practitioners are commonly asked to aid performers' psychological states - e.g., increase their confidence levels, facilitate better performance under pressure. Mental skills interventions have been a mainstay in the sports psychology literature and evidence is largely supportive of their beneficial effects for athletes. In this module you will gain a critical appreciation for the contemporary research literature primarily surrounding psychological or mental skills; with an emphasis on self-talk and imagery. Importantly, the reasoning for doing so, is to be able to apply this knowledge in form of effective athletic interventions.

Based on the adage that there is nothing as practical as a good theory, this module will place emphasis on relevant theories and research based literature pertinent to the following topics:

• Basic and advanced psychological skills
• Psychological skills packages
• Intervention effectiveness
• Goal setting
• Self-talk
• Imagery

threshold

50%> Will have demonstrated some understanding of theories covered within the module as well as some ability to develop evidence-based psychological interventions. Reasonable communication / presentation skills demonstrated.

excellent

70%> Will have demonstrated an excellent and critical understanding of theories covered within the module as well as a strong ability to develop evidence-based psychological interventions. Excellent communication / presentation skills demonstrated.

good

60%> Will have demonstrated a good and perhaps glimpses of critical understanding of theories covered within the module as well as a good ability to develop evidence-based psychological interventions. Good communication / presentation skills demonstrated.

1. Critical understanding and application of the contemporary mental skills literature

2. Devise an effective and justifiable psychological skills intervention programme

3. Apply psychological skills training to an appropriate intervention

Type	Name	Description	Weight
COMPREHENSION TEST	Comprehension Test	10 short answer questions	10.00
REPORT	Essay	In this essay you will provide a critique of the mental skills literature emphasising one particular outcome (e.g., how mental skills might bolster confidence levels). This critique will form the foundation of a proposed mental skills intervention.	60.00
COURSEWORK	Coursework	A two sided A4 pamphlet or infographic that is an athlete-centred resource synched with and summarising the proposed intervention outlined in the module's accompanying essay.	30.00

		Hours
Lecture	This module will consist of 10 x 2 hour lectures	20
Private study	76 hours will be devoted to private study and reading	76
Workshop	Live interactive workshop sessions 2 x 2hrs	4

• 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
• 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.

• demonstrate effective written and/or oral communication and presentation skills
• work effectively independently and with others
• develop knowledge of psychometric instruments
• develop justifiable and/or evidence-based interventions
• develop effective learning aids

Talis Reading list

http://readinglists.bangor.ac.uk/modules/jxh-4103.html

Reading list

Sample papers:

Callow, N., Roberts, R., Hardy, L., Jiang, D., & Edwards, M. G. (2013). Performance improvements from imagery: Evidence that internal visual imagery is superior to external visual imagery for slalom performance. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 21. doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2013.00697

Hardy, J., Begley, K. & Blanchfield, A. W. (2015). It's good but it's not right: Instructional self-talk and skilled performance. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 27, 132-139. DOI: 10.1080/10413200.2014.959624

Hatzigeorgiadis, A., Bartura, K., Argiropoulos, C., Comoutos, N., Galanis, E., & Flouris, A. D. (2018). Beat the heat: Effects of a motivational self-talk intervention on endurance performance. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 30, 388-401, DOI: 10.1080/10413200.2017.

Latinjak, A. T., Hernando-Gimeno, C., Lorido-Méndez, L., & Hardy, J. (2019). Endorsement and constructive criticism to an innovative online goal-directed self-talk intervention. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 1819. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01819

Williams, S. E., & Jennifer Cumming, J. (2011). Measuring Athlete Imagery Ability: The Sport Imagery Ability Questionnaire. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 33, 416–440.

Optional in courses:

• X3AZ: MSc Applied Innovation Design year 1 (MSC/AID)
• C6AT: MSc Performance Psychology year 1 (MSC/PP)
• C6AU: MSc Performance Psychology (DL - 2 year) year 1 (MSC/PRP)