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Research

Research activity in the Department is organised into three main areas: applied sport-related research; learning and teaching-related research; and consultancy/knowledge exchange-related activities (organised through our Sports Science Consultancy Unit).

The research activity within the Department provides an opportunity to create a growing set of collaborative links with the regional community. For example, recent work has involved, among others, Winchester & District Athletics Club and Havant Men’s Hockey Club, Portsmouth City Council and Portsmouth City Primary Care Trust.

Below is a brief insight into the Department’s current research activities.

(a) Sport-Related Research

Expertise and psychomotor performance in field hockey

Research investigating how expertise may influence the performance of sports-specific psychomotor dual-tasks, examining the role of the central executive in the learning and performance of a sports-specific psychomotor skill in field hockey.

The influence of coach reputation on soccer players’ behaviour

The first field-based examination of athlete-induced expectancy effects within the coach-athlete relationship, investigating the extent to which the reputation of the coach impacts on athletes’ attention, effort and persistence, and technical ability.

Physical activity and the Nintendo Wii: A psycho-physiological approach

Research examining whether or not changes in mood state already demonstrated through involvement in traditional forms of physical activity could be replicated through the use of computer gaming, specifically, the Nintendo Wii. The initial results from this project will be presented at the BASES Annual Conference 2010 at The University of Glasgow.

Team sport experiences of athletic mothers

Research exploring the experiences of mothers who play sport. Self-Determination Theory was used as a framework to provide insight into the issues, motivations, benefits and barriers that exist for women who are both mothers and team sport players.

Sport, migration and national identity

Research into the links between migrant rugby union players and national identity using a figurational sociological framework. To be published as a chapter in the forthcoming edited collection: ‘Sport and Migration’ (see http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415498340/).

Media representations of the Team GB cycling team

Research exploring television and newspaper representations of gender and national identities related to elite British track cyclists during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

The effect of a respiratory muscle warm-up on V02 on-kinetcis during a supramaximal intensity running in trained athletes

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a respiratory muscle warm (RMW) up on the profile of oxygen uptake (V02) during high intensity running.

Cycle-run transition training to improve triathlon performance

The aim of this study was to investigate an improved method of training to minimise this loss of performance in triathlets, and to provide knowledge exchange to local triathlon clubs.

(b) Sport & Social Issue Research

The impact of decreasing cultural homophobia on men’s physical intimacy with other men.
 
This project examines the degree to which teamsport athletes cuddle as a form of showing affection toward their mates. In addition to quantifying what percent of undergraduate athletes sleep in the same bed with other men, it examines how these men no longer fear being thought gay for their behaviors.
 
Monogamy and Cheating among Female Athletes
 
Some research suggests that female athletes have less sex than no-athletes. This research serves to extend this by examining whether or not female athletes cheat at the same rates, and with the same meanings as non athletes.
 
Head Injuries in American Football
 
This research analyzes the media’s reporting on head injuries in American football. Consistent with other research showing a softening of masculinities, it finds more sensitivity and less warrior notions of bravery in operation with sport media today.

(c) Learning & Teaching-Related Research

The informational cues that students utilise to form an initial impression of a lecturer

Research examining how beliefs and expectancies may influence student-lecturer interactions, examining the informational cues that students perceived to be influential when developing expectancies of a lecturer.

The influence of reputation information on the assessment of undergraduate student work

Researching the impact of the knowledge of a student’s prior performance on (a) the marks awarded to an essay; and (b) the construction of feedback throughout the essay.

The effective use of group work in Higher Education

Research into student perspectives on the use of assessed and non-assessed group work in HE.

(d) Consultancy & Knowledge Exchange Activity

Mount Makalu Project

Developing a sport psychology programme used to prepare athletes from the British armed forces who were about to embark on a pioneering mountaineering expedition in the Himalayas.

Exploring opportunities for Performance Analysis with local and regional athletes and teams

Developing a Performance Analysis support structure using the DartFish video analysis system to break sports performance down into smaller parts and thus allow trainers and coaches to develop tailored interventions to improve performance.