1. Critically evaluate the relevant theoretical approaches and contemporary literature relating to the social psychology of sport and exercise, with a particular focus on group dynamics and leadership.

Knowledge & Understanding

Research Skills

2. Critically evaluate interventions to enhance group functioning and/or leadership in sport and exercise.

Application & Problem Solving

Critical Reasoning & Collaboration

3. Critically apply appropriate theoretical perspectives to the social psychology of leaders or groups based on a selected issue in sport or exercise.

Application & Problem Solving

Communication

For this module students will be required to produce a 20-minute recorded presentation drawing on appropriate theory and research to critically explain a selected leadership and/or group functioning case study of your choice from a sport or exercise setting. Students will be provided with formative assessment and feedback via on-line tasks and discussions throughout the duration of the module. Students will receive formative feedback throughout the module comprising a combination of task related feedback and comments on online discussion contributions.

This module covers the application of social psychological theory to sport and exercise settings, with a focus on audience effects, group dynamics, and leadership, and on how these processes may impact on the performance of athletes, coaches, trainers and managers. Adopting a social psychological framework, the module will examine contemporary approaches related to the impact of audiences, group dynamics and cohesion in the performance domain. The efficacy of group-based interventions (e.g., Personal-Disclosure Mutual-Sharing) will be examined and appraisal of the social identity approach critically explored. The approach adopted here will be to use a theory to evidence to application framework and allow students to critically examine current evidence from their own perspective as a performer, coach, teacher, trainer or psychologist. In the second half of the module traditional and contemporary theoretical approaches to sport and exercise leadership will be critically examined. A particular focus here will be on recent innovative approaches to leadership (i.e., the social identity approach to leadership), with students examining empirical evidence in this area, and can explore how these approaches are applied in sport and exercise settings. Finally, the development of leadership skills through theoretically based interventions will be evaluated. Module content includes:

Introduction to Social Psychology & Audience Effects

Sports Fan Behaviour

Social Identification and Cohesion

Enhanced Group Functioning

Introduction to the Psychology of Leadership

The Social Identity Approach

Enhancing Leadership Skills (e.g., The 3R’s Approach)

Leadership Case Studies

In this module, you will explore how social psychological theory is applied within sport and exercise settings, focusing on audience effects, group dynamics, and leadership, and how these processes influence the performance of athletes, coaches, trainers, and managers. You will critically examine the psychology of group dynamics, including evidence-based interventions designed to enhance team functioning, as well as contemporary and traditional approaches to leadership and the development of leadership skills. Using a theory-to-evidence-to-application framework, you will be encouraged to evaluate current research and apply key concepts to real-world sport and exercise contexts from your own perspective as a performer, coach, practitioner, or psychologist.

Students follow an online learning guided study programme and access support material via the virtual learning environment (e.g., Blackboard). Learning is facilitated through the completion of core tasks (e.g., asynchronous lectures and synchronous seminars) and independent study (e.g., additional reading, optional tasks, assignment preparation). In addition, core tasks are updated weekly and may include set reading, personal reflection, and discussion board tasks in addition to various other activities. Students are regularly directed to recommended resources (e.g., reading, video tutorials) to support completion of activities. Students are required to access additional support material independently. Students will receive formative feedback throughout the module comprising task-related feedback on a week-by-week basis, together with discussions to encourage peer-learning in addition to comments from relevant tutors.

Haslam, S. A., Fransen, K., & Boen, F. (2020). The new psychology of sport and exercise: The social identity approach. Sage.

Haslam, S. A., Reicher, S., & Platow, M. J. (2026). The new psychology of leadership: Identity, influence and power (3rd Ed). Routledge.

Davies, L., Keegan, R., & Jowett, S., (2022). Social psychology in sport (2nd Ed). Human Kinetics.

Slater, M. J. (2019). Togetherness: How to build a winning team. Bennion Kearny.

Hogg, M. A. & Vaughan, G. M. (2022). Social psychology (9th Ed). Prentice Hall.

Access to an appropriate PC, with accompanying software including Office 365 (MS Teams, One-Drive, Word, PowerPoint et al.), Adobe, and Java software.