Program Overview

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Module Overview

The FUNDAMENTALS OF SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY module introduces students to the fundamental ideas and practices of sports psychology. It is intended as an introduction, though it assumes some familiarity with basic concepts delivered in the first year of the programme. The module moves from a physiological understanding of athletes to understand the psychological processing also governing performance.

Module Provider

The module is provided by the School of Biosciences.

Module Leader

The module leader is PARKER Matthew (Biosciences).

Number of Credits

The module is worth 15 credits.

ECTS Credits

The module is worth 7.5 ECTS credits.

Framework

The module is classified as FHEQ Level 5.

Module Cap

There is no maximum number of students for this module.

Overall Student Workload

The overall student workload is distributed as follows:

• Independent Learning Hours: 84
• Lecture Hours: 22
• Tutorial Hours: 10
• Guided Learning: 11
• Captured Content: 23

Module Availability

The module is available in Semester 1.

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

The prerequisite for this module is BMS1053 SKILL ACQUISITION & RESEARCH METHODS.

Module Content

Indicative content includes:

• Motivation
• Competitive anxiety, arousal, stress, and coping with these
• Attention and concentration
• Emotions
• Self-confidence
• Factors influencing Team dynamics cooperation and cohesion group processes
• Enhancing communication
• Skills training
• Visualisation and focus
• Goal setting
• Professional practice as a sports psychologist

Assessment Pattern

The assessment pattern is as follows: | Assessment Type | Unit of Assessment | Weighting | | --- | --- | --- | | Coursework | COURSEWORK - RESEARCH METHODS REPORT | 50 | | Examination Online | ONLINE (OPEN BOOK) EXAM WITHIN A 4HR WINDOW | 50 |

Alternative Assessment

In the event that a student is unable to take part in the research project, they will be asked to write a critical evaluation of a research paper.

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate key digital literacy skills, including their ability to critically engage with academic literature and their ability to critically review the literature and to assess the quality and quantity of evidence in psychology.

Module Aims

The module aims to:

• Provide students with an in-depth knowledge and critical understanding of the psychological preparation of sports performers
• Give students familiarity with the work of the key figures in sports psychology from a diverse range of backgrounds
• Give students the skills to critically evaluate research in sport psychology by employing evidence-based reasoning
• Provide students with the skills to critically discuss the implications of key findings relating to sport psychology
• Provide students with a basic understanding of qualitative research methods
• Provide students with opportunities to be critical and effective communicators, through interview and group-based activities

Learning Outcomes

The learning outcomes are as follows: | | Attributes Developed | | --- | --- | | 001 | Describe and understand the contribution that psychological concepts can make to elite performance in a practical environment | KC | | 002 | Understand the effects of competitive and co-operative sport environments upon performance and behaviour | K | | 003 | Understand and describe the major theoretical and methodological issues that underpin the study of sports performance both in individual and team sports | KP | | 004 | To display critical evaluation of the theoretical frameworks of sports psychology and different perspectives in relation to the available evidence | C | | 005 | Describe and understand the psychological dynamics of a sports team, and how to communicate with team members from differing backgrounds | K | | 006 | Recognize the distinctive contribution of an evidence-based approach to sport psychology and its effect on the role of a sports psychologist, as a practitioner in the provision of interventions to enhance performance | KPT | | 007 | To design, run, and analyse a small-scale qualitative research study, utilizing module knowledge to develop an assessment | CPT |

Attributes Developed

The attributes developed are:

• C: Cognitive/analytical
• K: Subject knowledge
• T: Transferable skills
• P: Professional/Practical skills

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to give students familiarity with the thinking and writing of the key figures in sports psychology from a diverse range of backgrounds. The methods include:

• Lectures of 2 hours duration for 11 weeks
• Five practical tutorial classes of 2 hours duration

Programmes this Module Appears In

The module appears in the following programme:

• Sport and Exercise Science BSc (Hons) in Semester 1, classified as Compulsory, with a qualifying condition of a weighted aggregate mark of 40% to pass the module.