Rethinking the Field: Critical Issues in Sport and Exercise Psychology
| Module title | Rethinking the Field: Critical Issues in Sport and Exercise Psychology |
|---|---|
| Module code | SHSM065 |
| Academic year | 2026/7 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 10 |
|---|
Module description
This module will encourage you to critically explore and rethink the foundations, assumptions, and practices of sport and exercise psychology through reflexivity and inclusivity. You will engage with psychological theories and research paradigms, examining their historical, cultural, and ethical contexts, and their impact on diverse populations. Emphasis shall be placed on practitioner identity, ethical complexities, and challenging traditional models and methods. You will develop critical thinking and creative approaches to applied practice in sport, integrating perspectives on power, identity, and social justice. No prior sport and exercise psychology knowledge is required, though an understanding of basic psychological concepts, ethics, and research will be beneficial.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The aim of this module is to inspire you to critically engage with the historical, cultural, and philosophical foundations of sport and exercise psychology. Drawing on the module team’s own experiences of professional development, you will be invited to explore the questions and challenges that have shaped practitioners in the field. You will be encouraged to reflect on questions such as what counts as knowledge, how it is created, and how your own values and experiences will influence your development as an aspiring psychologist. Key themes will include the role of power, identity, and inclusivity in sport; the ethical and relational dimensions of applied practice; and the limitations of purely skills-based or ‘toolkit’ approaches. Lectures and seminars will encourage you to engage in critical debates around epistemological and methodological approaches, enabling you to evaluate the relationship between research and practice and to develop a reflexive, research-informed approach to your professional development.
Through inquiry-led and reflective learning, combined with a variety of unique summative assessments, this module aims to enhance your employability. You will develop key graduate attributes, including critical thinking and self-awareness, alongside applied skills such as cultural competence and ethical awareness. These experiences will equip you to navigate the complexities of applied sport and exercise psychology with confidence and professionalism as you progress in your future career.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Recognise the historical, cultural, and philosophical foundations of sport and exercise psychology, including dominant theories, models, and assumptions that shape research and practice.
- 2. Evaluate the relationship between professional philosophy, research methodologies, and applied practice, with particular attention to issues of power, identity, ethics, and inclusivity in contemporary sport and exercise psychology
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. Apply critical, research-informed perspectives to analyse and interpret complex issues in sport and exercise psychology
- 4. Illustrate an advanced understanding of ethical principles and their application within sport and exercise psychology practice
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Present and communicate complex ideas and critical debates effectively, adapting to diverse audiences
- 6. Demonstrate advanced critical thinking, self-reflection, and reflexivity to evaluate ones own stance and its influence on applied sport and exercise practice
Syllabus plan
This module will include 3 hours of weekly face-to-face contact. This will typically consist of a one-hour lecture and a two-hour seminar each week to discuss the taught theoretical content. Students will be encouraged to attend assignment group sessions (meetings with peers to work through assignment criteria).
The modules key topics will include:
- Critiquing traditional models, paradigms and assumptions;
- The art of knowing’ (developing and interpreting knowledge);
- Power identity and inclusivity in sport-based context;
- Rethinking practice;
- Rethinking methodology.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | 260 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 33 | Lectures & Seminars (F2F) |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 7 | Assignment group meetings (reflective learning groups and podcast groups) |
| Guided Independent Study | 100 | Reading and lecture preparatory work |
| Guided Independent Study | 160 | Assignment preparation |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interview Question Submission | 5-10 interview questions | 5 | No feedback |
| Consent Form Submission (interviewer/interviewee) | Consent form | 4 | No feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Podcast (interview style) | 40 | 15 minutes | 1-6 | Written feedback and grade |
| Reflective Portfolio | 60 | 2,000 words | 1-6 | Written feedback and grade |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Podcast (Interview style) (40%) | Podcast (solo commentary | 1-6 | Referral/Deferral Period |
| Reflective Portfolio (60%) | Reflective Portfolio | 1-6 | Referral/Deferral Period |
Re-assessment notes
The podcast will not be required to be completed in pairs, instead, students can record the podcast independently
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- Hassmén, P., Keegan, R., & Piggott, D. (2016). Rethinking sport and exercise psychology research: Past, present and future. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-48338-6
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | NONE |
| Module co-requisites | NONE |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 18/08/2025 |