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SPRT1261: INTRODUCTION TO SPORT AND EXERCISE PSYCHOLOGY

Please ensure you check the module availability box for each module outline, as not all modules will run in each academic year. Each module description relates to the year indicated in the module availability box, and this may change from year to year, due to, for example: changing staff expertise, disciplinary developments, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback. Current modules are subject to change in light of the ongoing disruption caused by Covid-19.

Type Open
Level 1
Credits 20
Availability Available in 2023/24
Module Cap 125
Location Durham
Department Sport and Exercise Sciences

Prerequisites

  • None.

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combinations of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • Provide students with a basic knowledge and understanding of the field of sport and exercise psychology, including familiarity with major theories, intervention strategies, and methods of data collection.
  • Prepare students with sufficient understanding of the body of knowledge of sport and exercise psychology to effectively deal with psychological content offered at Levels 2 and 3.

Content

  • The module will introduce students to the study of the psychological aspects relevant to participation, performance, and wellbeing in sport and exercise settings. The module will be structured around three core topic blocks of knowledge:
  • The individual. This block will explore individual-level factors influencing participation, performance, and wellbeing. Indicative content includes: concepts of anxiety, motivation, confidence and self-esteem, attention/concentration.
  • The Environment. This block will focus on the social psychology of sport and exercise. Indicative content will include leadership and group dynamics.
  • The Challenges. This block will focus on contemporary 'hot topics' in sport and exercise psychology (e.g. injury, burnout, stigma etc). The focus centrally will be on how psychology can help understand and address these issues.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

  • Demonstrated a basic understanding of psychological theory and research in sport and exercise contexts.
  • Demonstrated a basic understanding of some of the challenges of sport and exercise psychology research, theory and practice.
  • Demonstrated an understanding of common methods of data collection in sport and exercise psychology.

Subject-specific Skills:

  • Demonstrated a basic ability to apply sport and exercise psychology to identify solutions to applied problems.

Key Skills:

  • Self-directed learning; critical thinking; application of theoretical and research knowledge to applied problems.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Staff-led content, including individual and group-based activities, will provide general outlines of the concepts and theories and to direct students to relevant literature;
  • Interactive group activities (e.g. seminars/workshops/practical laboratory session) serve to provide students with opportunities to engage with the theoretical concepts more fully, and to gain experience with psychological measurements and application of interventions. Time will be devoted to familiarising students with the structure and terminology of research communications in Sport and Exercise Psychology;
  • Assessment will entail two 1.5 hour in-class tests;
  • The in-class tests will test the breadth of students' knowledge and understanding of the relevant theories and concepts addressed in the module.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Lectures20Weekly120 
Interactive seminars/practical workshops84 per term (1 & 2)18Yes
Preparation and Reading172 
Total200 

Summative Assessment

Component: TestComponent Weighting: 50%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
In-class Test1.5 hours100Yes - online in-class test sat in summer
Component: TestComponent Weighting: 50%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
In-class Test1.5 hours100Yes - online in-class test sat in summer

Formative Assessment

Series of learning tasks, including mock MCQs, related to each content block (6 per year)

More information

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