Psychology and Development Research Group
Promoting positive change in identity, performance and wellbeing
We work with all people interested in sport, physical activity, and physical education including:
- Olympic and Paralympic athletes and UK institutes of sport
- Professional and competitive sports teams
- Community sports and physical activity groups
- School and higher education institutions
- Disabled and non-disabled athletes
- Organisations supporting coaches, athletes, teachers, and professionals in the sports industry
Our vision is to be internationally recognised as leaders in generating and applying sociological and psychological knowledge in sport, physical activity, and physical education from grassroots to elite – as well as how this empowers the development of all people involved.
Our expertise
Our staff members are world-leading experts in innovative qualitative and quantitative research methods. We publish our work in peer reviewed journals and present at international conferences and national policy forums. Our research findings impact policy and practice in applied settings. Our main areas of expertise cover:
- Study of the daily existence of athletes, physical activity participants, coaches and support staff and how they understand themselves and others within their environments using a wide range of cutting edge, multidisciplinary scientific approaches
- Being able to develop, implement, and evaluate interventions promoting positive changes to player, physical activity participants, coach, support staff and sport science practitioner identity, performance and wellbeing, both during and after their sport-related careers
- Exploring how the sport and physical activity culture informs effective coaching, teaching, sport science, and sport psychology service delivery and how people working in this context can be developed within their professional training
- Critically exploring the conditions that constrain and various marginalised groups, such as disabled sports participants
Collaborations
Staff members have extensive networks with numerous national and international elite and professional sporting organisations, International and national Para sport agencies, local authorities, NHS and community organisations, schools, and professional bodies, providing our students with research and placement opportunities. Examples include professional UK and European professional football, cricket, and rugby teams, The Horseracing industry, Olympic sports, and UK institutes of sport. Our work and collaborations have led to successful research tenders, commissioned projects and international conference organisation.
Publications
Search through our selected publications:
14 papers found
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Journal article
Feedforward practices: a systematic review of the literature
Sadler I and Reimann N and Sambell K
Publish date:09/05/2022
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Journal article
The role and creation of pressure in training: Perspectives of athletes and sport psychologists
Low WR, Freeman P, Butt J and Stoker M and Maynard I
Publish date:22/04/2022
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Journal article
An audit of performance nutrition services in English soccer academies: implications for optimising player development
Carney DJ, Hannon MP, Coleman NM, Murphy RC and Close GL and Morton JP
Publish date:23/03/2022
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Journal article
Planning, Delivering, and Evaluating Formalised Sport Coach Mentoring: Exploring the Role of the Programme Director
Sawiuk R, Thomas L and Lewis C and Groom R
Publish date:01/03/2022
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Journal article
It looks like he cares, but he doesn’t.”: Athletes’ experiences of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ care in women’s football
Lewis C and Sawiuk R and Grimes S
Publish date:27/02/2022
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Journal article
Differences in older adult walking football initiation and maintenance influences across respondent characteristics: A cross-sectional survey
Cholerton R, Butt J and Quirk H and Breckon J
Publish date:26/02/2022
People
Meet the people working within this research group.
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Emma Ball
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Ian Beattie
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Vicci Boyd
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Prof Joanne Butt
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Dr Gillian Cook
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Danny Cullinane
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Dr Martin Eubank
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Tabo Huntley
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Dr Colin Lewis
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Dr Martin Littlewood
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Ceriann Magill
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Kelly Massey
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Dr Allistair McRobert
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Rebecca Murphy
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Dr Simon Roberts
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Dr Gus Ryrie
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Dr Ian Sadler
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Sally-Ann Starkey
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Dr Laura Thomas
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Dr David Tod
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Cath Walker
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Dr Paula Watson
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Dr Amy Whitehead
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