FUNDAMENTALS OF SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY - 2021/2

Module Overview

This 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.

Module provider

School of Biosciences and Medicine

Module Leader

JAYES Lewis (Psychology)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 5

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

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

The small scale research study will introduce students to qualitative research methods and the design, execution and analysis of a study

Assessment pattern

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

The assessment is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to critically engage with academic literature. Their ability to critically review the literature and to assess the quality and quantity of evidence in psychology. The assessment will also allow students to demonstrate their ability to present clear, coherent and concise arguments to an academic audience. The research report is used to summarise the students’ ability to conduct and report a small qualitative research project.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• One research methods report (25%, 6 pages using formatted template) due ~ week 9-10


• One 90 minute unseen essay format examination (75%) (in formal semester exam period)

• Written Feedback on research methods report


• Dialogue between students and staff in lectures and tutorials


• Generic written feedback on examinations


• Use of electronic voting in some lectures

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
• Give students the skills to critically evaluate research in sport psychology
• 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

Learning outcomes

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
• Provide students with the foundational knowledge to enable them to describe key theories used in sport psychology.
• Give students the skills to critically evaluate these theoretical perspectives and the empirical evidence that tests them.
• 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
• Enable students to develop, demonstrate and apply research skills by engaging with key aspects of the research process such as recruitment; data collection, analysis and report writing.

The learning and teaching methods include:

• Lectures of 2hrs duration for 11 weeks
• Five practical tutorial classes of 2 hours duration
• Use of Surrey Learn discussion board facility

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: BMS2064

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2021/2 academic year.