Tuesday, July 22, 2008
New publication
Tearle P and Golder G. (2008) The use of ICT in the teaching and learning of Physical Education in compulsory education: how do we prepare the workforce of the future? European Journal of Teacher Education Vol 31(1): 55-72
Friday, July 04, 2008
Research Day 2008
Experiencing hard times with the Royal Air Force (RAF)-
An investigation of cognitive functioning during a survival situation
Louise Ansell
By its very nature, a survival situation (either real or perceived) will comprise physiological and psychological pressures. Survival requires the ability to cope under conditions of environmental duress which, in turn, requires a capacity to interact flexibly with that environment in a goal directed manner. This interaction is dependent upon the ability to control attention. (Feldman Barrett et al., 2004). However, disaster inquiries and anecdotal accounts suggest that perceiving psychological or physical harm can cause cognitive impairment and maladaptive behaviour. This can limit an individual’s ability to take appropriate actions (Mileti & Peek, 2000), and may even result in cognitive paralysis in the face of danger (Leach, 2005).
An investigation was undertaken testing the attentional processing of 14, RAF aircrew who were participating in a two week survival training exercise. Compared to a baseline condition and control group those undergoing environmental duress showed significant impairment in controlled attention. These findings would suggest that this type of cognitive impairment makes flexible interaction with the survival environment difficult, and the victims behaviour becomes dominated by environmental cues at the expense of goal directed survival behaviour.
This short presentation provides an overview of this piece of research and explores the potential relevance within Outdoor Adventure.
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Beyond Measured Time: Teaching alternative discourses on sport and physical education
Jackie Arthur and Aaron Beacom
The teaching of sport and physical education rests on a set of pre-conceptions concerning what constitutes acceptable forms of physical culture, as well as how particular types of physical activity relate to the trajectory of modern sport. While there is an acknowledgement of the value of participation in ‘basic’ forms of physical activity, these are legitimised through their relationship to the health, educational or wider sport development agendas. At the same time the individual’s journey through sport is often viewed in terms of a linear path from rudimentary movement toward enhanced efficiency of effort. From the perspective of the development of swimming, this presentation re-assesses dominant discourse relating to sport and physical education and suggests an alternative discourse that rests partly on development theory, partly on learning theory. The presentation reflects work in progress, with the ultimate objective of developing into a cross-disciplinary investigation.
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Physical Activity Programming as a Treatment for Patients with Low Back Pain
Saul Bloxham & Phil Barter
Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common (17.3 million sufferers in the UK) and costly (£1 billion each year) conditions in industrialized countries (Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance [ARMA], 2004). Exercise therapy has been used to treat LBP, although there is limited research into the effectiveness of such interventions. The aim of this study was to implement and evaluate the effectiveness of a physical activity programme in the treatment and education of a group of back LBP patients. Six patients (aged 50.7 ±17 years) completed a 6 week physical activity programme lasting 2 hours per week. Each session provided the patients with a different practical and educational focus including aerobic fitness, core stability, ergonomics and muscular strength and endurance. In addition, patients were required to use diary sheets to record exercises completed at home. Results showed significant (p < r =" 0.93)" r =" 1.0).">
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Exactly how hot are some of the male SSPEL staff?
Caroline Brokenshire
Last year I stated that during thermoregulatory research, core and peripheral temperatures are monitored to assess thermoregulatory strain. To date published paediatric thermoregulatory work has calculated mean skin temperature (Tsk) from adult weighted, unweighted or variable formula equations.
It is well documented that children have a higher surface area to body mass ratio than adults. The alterations in surface area through maturation may impact upon the validity of adult based Tsk equations to the paediatric population. Furthermore, during the adolescent growth spurt it is acknowledged that children experience accelerated growth in different regions that may impact upon peripheral temperatures and the surface area used for weighted equations.
Infrared thermography is a technique which allows detection of the entire body surface area. Through combined monitoring of a thermal imaging camera and skin thermistors; the validity of adult based equations can be assessed.
This presentation compares thermal images from young adult male SSPEL members to a cohort of trained 14-16y old boys.
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Exploring the role of volunteers at the Plymouth Race for Life
Phil Brown
Volunteers are often described as the backbone of British Sport. This presentation will explore the role of volunteers within the delivery of Cancer Research UK’s Plymouth Race for Life.
This evaluation was undertaken for a Sports Event Management module assessment, which forms part of my Sport Management MSc.
The ‘research’ aims to explore the recruitment, deployment and recognition of volunteers at the event. Primary research was undertaken using semi-structured interviews with Cancer Research UK’s Event Organiser, the volunteer Race Co-ordinator and volunteer Race Marshalls on the day of the race.
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Research, teaching, fieldwork, higher education and the origins of Marjon: historical and Geographical connections
Pauline Couper
As lecturers, we face multiple demands: not just to teach, but to develop our understanding of pedagogy, and to undertake scholarly and research activity in our subject, not to mention widening participation, developing employability, providing pastoral support… It’s easy to get lost in the details and lose sight of the big question about what ‘higher education’ is – or should be – all about.
On-going discussions among a small, multi-disciplinary group of staff have led me to reflect on my own assumptions about higher education, and to begin to develop a better appreciation of the historical roots of the ideas that have influenced them. This presentation traces some of the connections.
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The applied practice of sport psychology
Melissa Coyle
The main focus to become an accredited sport psychologist with the British association of sport and exercise science (BASES) is to work in the field setting as a psychology consultant within a number of different sports. However it can be a very demanding environment to break into and expectations from athletes, managers and coaches to succeed are high. The difficulty with sport psychology as an applied discipline, and where expectations from managers and coaches can be hard to meet, is that definitive results can be difficult to measure and are strongly linked to athletes perceptions, unlike other disciplines such as nutrition and physiology where results are physically visible and can be presented in a more concrete manor.
This research presentation will reflect on personal experiences of working as a consultant mainly within professional football clubs. Key factors that will be considered are gaining entry to the field, first impressions, working as part of a team, barriers faced, characteristics of an effective practitioner, -and an honest insight to what is truly involved.
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The Optimisation of Triple Jump Performance
Lance Doggart
Resistance training methods have been adopted by athletes from a diverse range of sports to enhance performance. A number of training options are available from traditional weight training methods to dynamic plyometrics, where the acceleration and deceleration of body weight serves as the overload for training (Siff, 1994; Chu, 1984). Chu (1994) defined plyometric training as:
“any exercise that uses the natural elastic recoil elements of human muscle and the neurological stretch, or myotatic, reflex that are inherent in all muscle to produce a stronger, faster muscle response “ (p4)
Sport specific training exercise can be selected to provide resistance to relevant movements through the appropriate range of motion. The desired movement should not only occur in an exercise, but the movement must be resisted. If a sport involves rapid application of force eg. triple jumping, then ‘explosive’ exercises should be incorporated into the training programme (Fowler et al. 1994; 1995). Coaches have tended to use generalised plyometric training progammes however a more structured, systematic and sport specific approach may be beneficial.
The aims of this research were twofold:-
1. To identify triple jump specific plyometric exercises which enhance triple jump performance.
2. To develop a triple jump specific plyometric training programme.
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Issues in the development of an inclusive curriculum: Listening to student voices in the evaluation of reusable learning objects (in the subject areas of sport, leisure and outdoor adventure)
Ian Gilhespy
The paper reports the outcomes of a study designed to examine the educational effectiveness of reusable learning objects for students with particular needs (with specific reference for disabled students on programmes related to sport, leisure and outdoor adventure). Reusable learning objects (RLOs) are briefly defined. This is followed by an outline discussion of the potential of RLOs in the creation of an inclusive curriculum. The study pays particular attention to the voices of students in expressing the constraints of their own educational experiences and relating the uses of RLOs in managing these constraints. The findings of the study suggest that RLOs provide a rich source of learning material but that this may be a function of the students established coping strategies including ‘lone working’, and anxiety management.
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Happy Healthy Playtimes: Pedometer Intervention Project.
Erica Eaton Quinn
There is overwhelming concern for the future health of our nation the seriousness of which has been acknowledged at government level. Epidemiological and physiological research clearly links health in adults to levels of physical activity among other factors. Whilst the link is more tenuous in children, tracking studies suggest that an active child is more likely to become an active adult who will then reap the benefits of enhanced health and certainly reduced risk of death as a result of degenerative diseases.
Physical activity guidelines put forward by the Health Education Authority (
This study investigates the effect of extrinsic motivation to encourage children to take part in physical activity during playtimes. The extrinsic motivation in this case is provided by pedometers. Pedometers are now affordable and indeed a number have been made freely available to the public, for example through cereal companies as free gifts. Despite research suggesting these free devices to be inaccurate measures of physical activity they could still act as a motivational tool to encourage primary aged children to choose to be physically active in their free time in this case playtime. Note that all measurement of physical activity during the research project will be carried out through the use of downloadable hearty rate monitors worn by the children during playtimes.
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Part timer PhD – the story so far!
Gill Golder
I am working on a research study for my PhD into the relationships between inclusive education (specifically special educational needs), collaborative practice and school organisation. To date I have gathered information from 25 different schools in 5 different Local Authorities. Questionnaires were dispatched to schools to gain whole school staff opinion about inclusive policy and practice. The initial data gathered by questionnaire highlighted some common themes under the four sub headings of inclusion, school structure, collaboration and school ethos. The findings for the first phase of data collection are to be used to explore in detail three case study schools / colleges where inclusive practice was evident but structure, ethos and collaboration were different. The ethnographic research has already changed focus in light if the initial data collection and I am sure will do so again as the case studies unfold.
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Music and Learning
Dave Harris
There are two quite different traditions which analyse the possible effects of music on mood. In Leisure Studies, there is a large body of work ranging from formal analysis of musical styles and their social meanings to material on popular music and youth culture. I have discovered another tradition recently in Sports Science which uses music in various RCTs and lab experiments to focus on outputs like sporting performance. Both traditions are formidably technical, and I am only scratching the surface at the moment.
My interest is in comparing the work and thinking of possible implications for my own practical interest in using music on RLOs to motivate or involve people undertaking learning tasks. Here there is much anecdotal material on music as helpful.
Contributions from colleagues would be especially welcome.
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The development of a Leadership Styles Competency Framework (LSCF) associated with effective leadership in the role of Regional Rugby Development Manager
Gareth Jones
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of leadership styles competency frameworks on the leadership effectiveness of Regional Rugby Development Managers (RRDMs) at the Rugby Football Union (RFU).
An analysis of literature resources was undertaken by employing the use of electronic media, library searches and a search of leadership and management related journals. A range of senior leaders across a raft of businesses, sporting and other organizations were contacted via electronic media for input and assistance on the research topics.
Leadership training was undertaken with key RFU personnel on a number of occasions, and a total of 78 delegates were engaged in exclusive testing in relation to leadership effectiveness in terms of 360 degree feedback processes (such as a leadership styles inventory). This multi-rater survey provided the RRDMs with a profile of their leadership styles in six dimensions. Each RRDM was also engaged in testing which sought to measure a group of personal competencies selected as most likely to make a performance difference in their role. Results were statistically processed, recorded and compared with earlier literature studies.
A Leadership Styles Competency Framework (LSCF) was proposed with the philosophy that the ‘best’ organizations now have competency models at different levels to help leaders clarify expectations of performance and describe the skills necessary for effective leadership.
Recommendations were made, shortcomings of the study identified and suggestions for further study were proposed.
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The Journey so far…
Keith Jones
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As the Co
I chose to study for an Ed.D as opposed to a Ph.d for the fo
The first reason is that the Ed.D a
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Identifying Trends in Physical Education ITTE Recruitment and Selection
Nicky Jones
Recruitment to ITTE programmes in Physical Education has always enjoyed a buoyant market. For several years now the national target numbers have been significantly reduced for these programmes. Within SSPEL, a database has been set up to collate information received from the Physical Education ITTE application forms in order to provide the school and the institution with a range of information regarding the recruitment and selection process. The availability of this specific information allows for comparison with available national data (TDA
Scrutiny of the database information should provide opportunity to review of the current recruitment and selection process plus the opportunity for exploration of potential target groups.
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The production of a
Kelvin Kirk
This Action Research project started 12 months ago with the aim of developing a teaching/coaching resource, in the form of an instructional digital video disc (
It is not proposed that this video resource be a replacement for current practice but as a tool used to enhance and improve existing teaching methods. It would be designed as a modelling tool focussing on the learner with more visual preferences. This supports the view of Magill (2001) who believes that when video is used as augmented feedback observational learning is enhanced through modelling. From the results of the first stages of this action research project, it is clear that the feedback from the experienced players used in the pilot study reinforces this view of Magill (2001) and, with a few technical enhancements, believe this could be a useful teaching resource. It was therefore recommended that the phases undertaken thus far be expanded upon to take this action research project through its next logical stages and the curriculum resource be produced and then tested on an actual beginner student group.
Having now successfully piloted and written up this first action research cycle the next one, which should result in the production of the actual resource, has just begun.
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Innovative methods of feedback – changing behaviours.
Stuart Taylor
The coaching / teaching of sports, or any other performance element is largely credited to be a complex process (Saury & Durand, 1998 & Cassigy, Jones, & Potrac, 2004). The Coach(es) and teacher(s) must develop skills and strategies that create intervention and success within the performances of his / her charges. Embracing, analysing, deconstructing and constructing all these performance attributes is the coaches / teachers largest challenge, however it may be seen that ultimately the final piece of the jigsaw, that of the coaches / teachers feedback, is the most vital in the overall process.
Within the last 20 years developments in a range of technologies have permeated through society as a whole and many forward thinking practitioners realise that what is now on offer can be of benefit to both themselves and athlete / student / trainee to allow for a more detailed and objective experience.
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A Special Coach-Athlete Dyad? A Case Study of a Coach and their Captain
Gareth Long
The objective of the present study was to examine the coach-captain relationship of an elite basketball dyad. Using a qualitative approach, semi-structured interviews were undertaken with both members of the dyad, and an analysis of the interview transcripts, informed by the 3C’s + 1C model carried out. Results from the study indicate that an effective and successful coach-captain relationship are characterised by a close professional relationship (closeness) in which shared goals (commitment) and role clarity (complementarity) are salient. Analysis of the coach’s and captain’s direct and meta perceptions, in relation to the captain’s injury, suggest that despite empathetic understanding existing, contextual influences may affect satisfaction in aspects of the relationship. Duration of the relationship and the context of elite-level team sport are seen to shape the coach-captain relationship. The study adds to the literature by expanding the population studied in the existing coach-athlete domain, and provides understanding of a case study from which future studies may generalise from.
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Recall agreement between actual and retrospective reports of competitive anxiety: A comparison of intensity and frequency dimensions.
Gareth Picknell
This study aimed to compare athlete’s abilities to recall the intensity and frequency of anxiety symptoms experienced in previous competition. A mixed-method design was employed where athletes (n = 35) from a range of sports completed the CSAI-2 at four pre-competition and four post-competition intervals to compare actual and recalled responses. Subsequently, interviews (n = 6) were conducted with a random sample of the original participants to explicate the quantitative results. Quantitative data were analysed using limits of agreement, indicating that memory for frequency was generally more reliable, and recall ability of this dimension was less biased for symptoms that occurred earlier in the week. Analysis of the follow-up interviews signified that athletes were more attuned to the frequency of their competitive anxiety symptoms. These findings provide support for the notion that the frequency of symptoms may act as a precursor for increasing intensity. Implications of this study relate to practitioners responsibility for managing the amount of time anxiety symptoms are experienced in order to suppress the negative impact of perceived symptom intensity on performance.
Key words: Anxiety, Memory, Intensity, Frequency, Mixed Method
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Coaching Orienteering to Large Groups
Su Porter
(not presenting)
Orienteering is a complex sport of fine navigation techniques andrapid decision making fr route choice at speed in a competitive situation. When orienteering it is not possible to trail every competitor to observe their actions as they run the course. It is possible to undertake this with small groups but there comes a point when an orienteer must run alone and make their own decisions as they navigate around the course.
The aim of this study is to undertake small group coaching opportunities when students undertake an orienteering course. This will be followed by students taking it in turns to wear head cams to observe and records their progress. The headcams will need to not only film but also record voice as the students talk aloud their thought processes as they progress over the course. The aim is then to use this footage as an analysis tool to play back the experience and address coaching points through the scenario. The aim is that all students at some point are able to analyse their own and others performance using this technique. An outcome of this study may also demonstrate where novice orienteers focus their effort when undertaking a course through to more experienced orienteers focus on the same course.
This is a fledgling idea that I hope to progress and put into practice possibly in 2008/9 term one with B.Ed students but certainly in Semester 2 with BA students.
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PhD study on: Patients’ and doctors’ attitudes towards health and fitness during the course of an exercise referral scheme’.
Martyn Queen
The aims of the study are to investigate:
· the effects of exercise prescription.
· the different ways that participants experience the exercise referral scheme.
· the adherence to and sustainability of physical activity behaviour.
Outline of theoretical context:
The frameworks that inform this research project are located within the schools of thought relating to realism (structure) and idealism (agency). These perspectives were adopted to allow the researcher to gain insights in to how societal structures can impact on a persons health, as well as how the peoples behaviours within these structures can affect their health.
Methodology:
Multiple case study approach was used.
Semi-structured interviews used to collect the data.
Three sets of interviews:
First January 2008 18 interviews (12 patients, 6 doctors)
Second set July 2008 (12 patients, 6 doctors)
Third set January 2009 (12 patients)
Results: initial analysis
Still bowling along
Ian Roberts
Action research can be a never ending business and its focus changes with the results of the research and its impact on the external environment. Over the past year the work has achieved several successes as well as problems. In this presentation I will be looking at the practical considerations of action research with the bowling community in Plymouth and the Catholic Schools Sector and extended services. These include:-
· Funding achievements
· Partnership development and maintenance
· Public consultation and public relations
· Developing Best practice in Sports Development
· The role of the researcher, empowerment of the participant
· Contribution of research to teaching practice
· Is action research acceptable research?
· Management issues`
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Sport Science Support Programme for Junior Athletes
Chris Smietanka
Throughout the academic year the sport science support team has undertaken a Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) support programme to junior athletes. The aim of this programme was to educate and empower the young athletes to engage in safe and effective training practices. These children were identified as Gifted and Talented by their schools within the city of Plymouth and currently participate in a variety of different sports. This programme was designed to support junior athletes to effectively develop and maximise their potential within the Training to Train stage of the LTAD model (Balyi and Way, 2002). The young athletes that were chosen for the programme were both male and female aged 12 – 15 years. The programme consisted of nine x 1 ½ hour monthly sessions. Baseline anthropometric and physiological measurements were taken in the first and last sessions. Thereafter, the junior athletes would participate in different activities that underpin the principles of sport science e.g. training speed and agility, developing explosive power and sport psychological profiling.
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Just Another 1000 words!
Mark Leather
This presentation will look at a work in progress which is ‘An illuminative evaluation of a Pupil Referral Unit in South West England’
I am undertaking an EdD, and having successfully completed part 1, the so called ‘taught’ aspect of the course (ha ha ha) I am currently undertaking the final thesis.
The presentation will outline the thesis, title, aims and research methods and provide some personal reflections upon the process.
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An investigation into the marketability of elite female football in England
Ryan Thomas
In 1995, Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) secretary Sepp Blatter declared that ‘the future is feminine’ (cited in Williams, 2004). ‘However, the notion that the future is feminine does in an English context appear a little quixotic’ (Harris, 2005: 185).
Arguably, football is a highly visible aspect of popular culture in Britain, and its views are widely debated by fans and professionals alike (Williams, 2004). In fact Williams (2004) suggested that most British people could name a male football star – whether they consider themselves to be enthusiasts of the sport or not, but in contrast, many self-confessed football fans would struggle to identify a single female player. This despite participation figures significantly increasing from approximately 11,000 affiliated players across the country in 1993, to 132,800 in 2004-05 (Football Association, 2007; Thomas, 2008).
With growing numbers of females now playing the game, media representations of sport continuing to be particularly powerful in naturalising and normalizing hegemonic meanings about the body and social relations, and many associated images of sporting bodies heavily gendered for audiences; (Wright and Clarke, 1999; Stevenson, 2002) how can women’s and girls' football be marketed and promoted in order to generate sufficient finance to develop further?
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Using census returns in sports history research
Mike Tripp
In a recent text that analyses postmodern approaches to sport history, Hill suggests that ‘[p]ress reports have become a staple – perhaps the staple – source in the task of reconstructing the history of sport and games’ (Hill, 2006: 118). However he also notes that some commentators have observed there is ‘…an inclination on the part of sport historians to use the press to the exclusion of other sources, and therefore at the detriment of the history they produce.’(Hill, 2006: 118) He therefore reminds colleagues there is ample material contained in archival deposits, which should also be exploited, especially official documents. One source of evidence, which has been used successfully by only a handful of sport historians, is census returns. The intention in this presentation is to explore the use of census returns in sport history research, with examples taken from Cornish wrestling during the nineteenth century, which will show the wealth of information that can be uncovered.
Hill, J. Anecdotal Evidence: sport, the newspaper press, and history, in Phillips, M.G. (ed.) (2006) Deconstructing Sport History: a postmodern analysis. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press. pp.117-129
