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Unit of study_

EXSS3049: Sport and Exercise Psychology

Semester 1, 2021 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit provides an introduction to the key psychological factors and explanatory frameworks relating to participation and adherence in physical activity, exercise and sport. A broad array of topics are covered including an overview of psychological factors (e.g., beliefs, motivation) as well as social and environmental factors affecting participation. The unit explains the benefits facets of mental health (e.g., well-being), and the benefits to particular psychological conditions. Special consideration is given to strategies facilitating exercise physical activity and exercise. Practical applications are made in relation to exercise practitioners, including health promotion professions such as exercise physiologists.

Unit details and rules

Unit code EXSS3049
Academic unit Movement Sciences
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
BACH1161 or HSBH1003
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Stephen Cobley, stephen.cobley@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Maria Fiatarone Singh, maria.fiataronesingh@sydney.edu.au
Kylie Moulds, kylie.moulds@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Bonnie Tran, bonnie.tran@sydney.edu.au
Alex Armstrong Whitfield, alexandra.armstrongwhitfield@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Participation Tutorial Attendance
Tutorial attendance is compulsory in this unit.
0% Multiple weeks Not-applicable
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO5 LO2
Small test Knowledge & Understanding Check
Written assessment
15% Week 07 1 hour 15mins
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3
Assignment group assignment Facilitating Exercise Behaviour Change
Written task
50% Week 11 2500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Assignment Knowledge dissemination task
Written task
35% Week 13 1200-1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  • In-class ‘knowledge check’ assessment: The assessment will consist of 3 questions (worth 5 marks each), requiring fully
    structured and written answers. Answers may need to include explanations and use of case/examples to help demonstrate knowledge and understanding of unit content so far covered. Questions will be based on topics/themes covered within unit content covered in the initial weeks of the semester. The exam will be set out against the learning objectives identified from ESSA guidelines.
  • Facilitating exercise behaviour change: As part of unit assessment, all students are required to complete the facilitating exercise behaviour change project in pairs. The assessment involves an attempt to facilitate and support exercise behaviour change with a member of the local public/community.
  • Knowledge dissemination task: The aim of assessment 3 is for students to demonstrate their knowledge of the unit material presented in lectures, recommended reading and broader research literature. The assessment task aims to help students understand how to synthesise and organise knowledge in a particular topic area and be able to communicate and/or disseminate that knowledge to educate and inform a target audience (i.e., help students to become knowledgeable about their degree field and to educate others).

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 The Big Health Problem: Low exercise/physical activity, High sedentary behaviour, & High energy intake. Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 02 1. The Intention-Behaviour Gap; 2. How knowledge & understanding is gathered in sport & exercise psychology; 3. An introduction to the scaling and questionnaire approach Lecture (2 hr) LO2
1. The intention-behaviour gap; 2. An overview of the behaviour change project. Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO5
Week 03 1. Individual correlates of exercise/PA behaviour - Attitudes, Beliefs, & intention; 2. Social & Environmental correlates of exercise/PA behaviour - Social/Environment Barriers & Facilitators. Lecture (2 hr) LO2
Identifying correlates of exercise/PA: Examination of video case examples. Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 04 Individual Factors in exercise/PA behaviour adoption and maintenance: Motivation - Self-determination. Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO5
1. Identifying motivational self-determination types. 2. Using self-determination principles to understand exercise/PA behaviour, and how behaviour can be changed. Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO5
Week 05 Psychological approaches to exercise/PA behaviour change: The transtheoretical model & stages of behaviour change. Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO5
Gathering background information to help understand and support exercise/PA behaviour change: Applying the transtheoretical model Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO5
Week 06 Understanding the individual in their social & environment context + Supporting exercise/PA behaviour change: Motivational interviewing Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO5
How to scaffold & support exercise/PA behaviour change: The application to client case contexts Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO5
Week 07 Assessment 1: 'Knowledge Check' exam. Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO5
Group work: Opportunity to plan & discuss behaviour change project. Meet with tutor: Opportunity to discuss behaviour change project. Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO5
Week 08 Exercise/PA & Sedentary Behaviour Measurement Lecture (2 hr) LO5
Week 09 Supporting Health Behaviour Change: Application of Behaviour Change Techniques Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
Week 10 1. Supporting exercise/PA behaviour change: The role of habit formation to maintained behaviour: 2. Developing habitual exercise/PA behaviour. Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5
1. Informal behaviour change project presentation: In-class presentation; 2. Preparation information for project submission. Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO5
Week 11 1. Exercise/PA & Mental Health: Getting the psychological ‘feel-good’ (affect) and sense of well-being effect. Lecture (2 hr) LO3 LO5
Week 12 1. Exercise/PA & Mental Health: Exercise/PA can help treat stress and anxiety. Lecture (2 hr) LO3 LO5
Assessment 3: Knowledge dissemination task - Assessment briefing & preparation. Tutorial (2 hr) LO3 LO4 LO6
Week 13 Exercise/PA & Mental Health: Issues and challenges related to exercise dependence. Lecture (2 hr) LO3 LO5

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: Attendance at weekly lectures (as scheduled) are required. You will also have been allocated a tutorial class (with specified day, location and time) when you enrol in this unit. It is very important that you attend your allocated class as we are unable to oversubscribe students to other tutorial classes.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. describe the roles of sport and exercise psychologists
  • LO2. identify the individual, social, and environmental barriers (and facilitators) that hinder or support exercise and physical activity participation and adherence
  • LO3. discuss and identify whether and how exercise and physical activity can enhance psychological and physiological health
  • LO4. discuss and highlight common psychological concerns associated with sporting performance, as well as describe how psychological skills training can assist performance
  • LO5. apply psychological constructs introduced and covered in the unit to help enhance exercise and/or physical activity participation and adherence, assess and change daily health-related behaviours, and assess psychological responses and outcomes
  • LO6. demonstrate effective written communication skills.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Not applicable.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.