URL study guide
https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2024-2025/B_SPORTPSYEVCourse Objective
The student is able to:- give an overview of several psychological factors that play a role in sport and other performance domains suchs as performing arts and policing, the assumed working mechanisms as well as ways of influencing these factors with mental training;
- critically assess (recent) research literature in sport and performance psychology on its thesis, content, empirical rigor and applicability;
- critically discuss (recent) research literature in sport and performance psychology in a paper, culminating in the evaluation of the literature and a discussion of implications for sport (psychology) practice;
- critically assess and discuss papers of fellow students on contents, structure, writing and originality.
- link applied research to its theoretical background;
- discuss research on applied sport psychology;
- formulate advice in specific areas of applied sport and performance psychology. Furthermore, students will gain initial experience with applying mental training techniques.
Course Content
This course provides insight into research on (applied aspects) of sport and performance psychology. Performance Psychology focuses on research, theory, and practice intended to improve performance in sport and other high-achievement domains such as performing arts and policing. Some of the topics that will be discussed are: performing under pressure, attentional control, motivation, as well as developing expertise. In addition to the lectures, a practical is organized, to experience and apply a selection of sport psychological methods (goal-setting, performing under pressure, and imagery). After the practical students have to prepare and submit a practical report (in groups). Finally, the content is for a large part determined individually as each student writes a paper on a key topic in sport psychology.Teaching Methods
lectures: 8 times 2 hours practical: 1 time 3 hours discussion meeting: 1 meeting 4 hours There are several lectures on topics in sport psychology and a practical. Students will produce an individual paper on a topic in sport psychology, write a practical report in small groups, and (individual) reviews of the papers of their fellow students. The papers will be discussed in discussion meetings at the end of the course. Participation in the practical and one discussion meeting is compulsory for students.Method of Assessment
Students produce a paper (70% of the final grade), a practical report(15% of the final grade) and reviews about papers of otherstudents (15% of the final grade). The paper, the practical report aswell as the reviews must at least be of sufficient quality to pass thecourse.Literature
- Course manual (Available on Canvas);
- Additional references will be announced on Canvas;
- Recent articles and book chapters on psychological factors in sport and sport psychology. Background literature:
- Cox, R.H., Sport Psychology: Concepts and Applications, 6th edition. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2007. or
- Bakker, F.C. & Oudejans, R.R.D. (2012/2019). Sportpsychologie. Nieuwegein: Arko Sports Media.
Entry Requirements
Students should have basic knowledge and understanding of sportpsychology as is available in textbooks such as Cox, R.H. (2007). SportPsychology: Concepts and Applications, 6th edition. Boston: McGraw-Hill,or Bakker, F.C. & Oudejans, R.R.D. (2012/2019). Sportpsychologie.Nieuwegein:Arko Sports Media.Language of Tuition
- English
Study type
- Master