Carnegie School of Sport - Graduate Teaching Assistant
Research Proposal Guidance and Projects
The Carnegie School of Sport, with its 80 year history, has a strong reputation for excellence within sport and physical
education. We offer a wide range of very popular sport related undergraduate and postgraduate courses that provide
distinctive pathways for our students and meet the vocational requirements of an expanding field. Research and consultancy
activities underpin our teaching, with academic staff being recognised as experts within their fields. The quality of this
research is evident in the outstanding results achieved in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, where we ranked 2 nd
nationally when accounting for both research quality and the number of contributing staff.
Graduate Teaching Assistants
We are seeking to appoint a number of full time Graduate Teaching Assistants within the academic disciplines of: Sport &
Exercise Science, Physical Activity & Health, Sport Coaching, Physical Education, Sport Business & Marketing. The Graduate
Teaching Assistant position offers motivated and aspiring academics a unique opportunity to study for a PhD, while lecturing
in subjects broadly related to their area of research.
We welcome PhD research proposals based on EITHER agreed projects (please see below) OR an applicant’s own area of
interest in the disciplines listed above.
This combined role, set within a dynamic research and teaching environment, provides a strong foundation for a range of
professional, industrial, research and academic careers.
Informal enquiries should be addressed to Peter Mackreth on 0113 8125371 or via e-mail at
P.K.Mackreth@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Research Proposal
-
Applicants are invited to submit a research proposal in writing to one of the projects listed below or provide your
own project within one of the academic disciplines.
Applicants are asked to provide a proposal of the research to be undertaken using the headings below as a guide.
The proposal of the research can be up to four A4 pages in length (with references as an addition to the proposal)
using type Arial 12 point.
Applicants are asked to include at the start of the proposal the research project title and the academic discipline
and/or research centre their proposal relates to.
Academic disciplines:

Sport & Exercise Science

Physical Activity & Health

Sport Coaching

Physical Education

Sport Business & Marketing
Research Centres:
•
Sport Business and Sports Marketing
•
Centre for Active Lifestyles (Professor Jim McKenna)
•
Centre for Sport Coaching and Physical Education (SCoPE) (Professor Andrew Sparkes)
•
Centre for Sports Performance (Professor Sue Backhouse)
a)
Qualifications, expertise and experience relevant to undertaking study for a PhD
b) Knowledge of the subject area that will ensure the development of a focussed line of enquiry
c)
Knowledge and understanding of research methods appropriate to undertaking a PhD in the area of research
d) Clarity on the original contribution that the completed PhD will make to the body of knowledge
e) Scale and scope of the proposed research in terms of delivery within the four year studentship.
Page 1 of 21
Research Projects
Contents
Centre for Active Lifestyles .......................................................................................................................................... 2
Centre for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion .................................................................................................................... 8
Centre for Sport Coaching and Physical Education ...................................................................................................... 9
Centre for Sports Performance .................................................................................................................................. 12
Sport Business & Sports Marketing............................................................................................................................ 19
Centre for Active Lifestyles
1
A longitudinal study exploring social and environmental influences on children’s physical activity during
the transition from primary to secondary school
The advantages of physical activity (PA) to young people are widely publicised and present psychological,
sociological and physiological benefits to those who regularly engage in PA (Boreham and Riddoch, 2001;
Warburton et al., 2006). The health risks of a sedentary and inactive lifestyle are also undeniably clear, with
physical inactivity accounting for approximately 6 percent of deaths globally, making it the fourth leading risk
factor for global mortality. Furthermore, PA is crucial in tackling childhood obesity levels as it provides the
backbone of total energy expenditure, and is vital in youth attaining a healthy weight status through
achieving a balance between energy intake and energy output.
Research has indicated that young people’s physical activity (PA) levels often significantly decline during the
transition from primary school to secondary school (Nader et al., 2008; Townsend et al., 2012; Boreham and
Riddoch, 2001). Whilst psychological and physiological factors have been explored (Niven et al., 2009;
Davison et al., 2007), little is known about how the change in the built environment may contribute to a
decline in PA during the transition from primary to secondary school. In order to promote or maintain PA
levels in youth, it is important that young people are provided with the opportunities to be active within
their surrounding social and physical environment. Many people in today’s society live in obesogenic
environments which play a key role in promoting weight gain by encouraging inactivity or poor diet.
Swinburn et al (2011) stated that obesity is the outcome of people responding normally to the surrounding
obesogenic environment in which they live.
This research project will explore the environmental and social influences on young people’s PA levels in a
longitudinal research project, tracking young people’s PA and lifestyle habits from late Key Stage 2 into early
Key Stage 3.
Please contact Dr Peter Collins for further details
E-mail: P.Collins@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)113 8123638
2
Oral nutrient exposure and appetite regulation
Preventing the overconsumption of food represents an important public health priority in order to reduce
the prevalence of overweight and obesity. Recent research has demonstrated that an increased duration of
oral nutrient exposure can reduce appetite perceptions and accelerate meal termination (de Graaf, 2012 –
Physiol Behav 107: 496-501). In this regard, increasing the time spent chewing a meal has been shown to
stimulate a reduction in food intake (Zijlstra et al., 2009 – Am J Clin Nutr 90: 269-75). Furthermore, chewing
and expectorating a meal from the mouth without ingestion has been demonstrated to reduce appetite and
Page 2 of 21
alter the release of appetite-regulating hormones from the gut (Heath et al., 2004 – J Endocrinol 180: 27381; Smeets et al., 2006 – Br J Nutr 95: 795-801).
This project aims to further investigate the appetite, gut hormone and food intake responses to oral nutrient
exposure through a series of acute laboratory experiments. These experiments will provide an opportunity
to develop nutritional interventions to reduce appetite and food intake, while also contributing to the
mechanistic understanding of appetite control. During this programme of research, the appointed candidate
will gain a variety of skills including appetite and food intake measurement, venous blood sampling and ELISA
analysis.
Please contact Dr Kevin Deighton for further details
E-mail: K.Deighton@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)113 8123582
3
The effects of exercise on postprandial metabolism
Elevated postprandial plasma triglyceride concentrations are associated with the development and
progression of atherosclerosis, and are established as an independent risk factor for future cardiovascular
disease. Current research demonstrates that exercise and dietary interventions can reduce postprandial
lipaemia, with exercise typically inducing greater reductions than dietary restriction. Furthermore, it appears
that the timing of exercise in relation to food consumption and the type of exercise performed influences the
observed changes in postprandial metabolism.
This project aims to further manipulate exercise and dietary interventions in order to optimise approaches to
reduce postprandial lipaemia. Although plasma triglycerides are likely to be the primary outcome measure, it
is anticipated that other traditional and novel cardiovascular disease risk factors will also be investigated.
During this programme of research, the appointed candidate will gain a variety of skills including the
development of standardised test meals, exercise testing, venous blood sampling and biochemical analysis.
Please contact Dr Kevin Deighton for further details
E-mail: K.Deighton@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)113 8123582
4
The obesogenic environment, understanding the role of individual diet and physical activity behaviours
Policy makers are beginning to engage with the idea that environments contribute to obesity. Current
evidence has focused on the proximity of locations, such as food stores and opportunities for physical
activity, but has failed to reach a consensus with this approach. Epidemiologically, it is now recognised that
proximity is an inadequate index of exposure.
This PhD. will investigate individual behaviours within specific micro- and macro-environments. Using novel
data collection methods (a bespoke mobile phone app) this project will triangulate exposure (i.e. the location
of food stores, opportunities for PA, cycle paths etc.) with consumption / behaviour (i.e. individuals’ food
choices, activities they engage in) and obesity at the individual level, considering spatial factors.
This project will require a multi- and inter-disciplinary approach, using novel data collection methods.
Specialised analyses will be deployed to answer complex research questions. Outputs are expected to make
timely, significant and original contributions to knowledge. These outputs will facilitate the development of
more refined frameworks and guidance for detailing the effects of environmental factors on obesity.
Please contact Dr Duncan Radley for further details
E-mail: Duncan.Radley@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)113 8129108
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5
Understanding the effect of the obesogenic environment, using big data sources
Current UK policy in relation to the influence of the ‘obesogenic environment’ is driven largely on
assumptions or speculations (assertions that are reported so often they are considered true) because
empirical evidence is lacking. The aim of the proposed Ph.D. is to better understand the ‘obesogenic
environment’ using big data.
Data on our activity, behaviour and location from sources as diverse as smart motorways, social media, store
loyalty cards and medical records, alongside data from consumer organisations, and large survey data
collected throughout the UK offer fruitful research opportunities to be harnessed and utilised in order to
better understand the effect of the environment on obesity. It is the value extracted from these data which
make this an innovative opportunity. Big data will allow the development of advanced frameworks and
guidance to improve various aspects of the environment, presenting considerable opportunity to better
understand and model the environment and how subtle changes could result in large benefits to the
population.
The role of the environment on obesity is a public health priority, and in light of recent announcements from
Public Health England in relation to the whole systems approach to obesity, this research is timely and will
make a significant and original contribution to the body of knowledge.
Please contact Dr Claire Griffiths for further details
E-mail: C.Griffiths@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)113 8126566
6
The effect of age and physical (in)activity on the anabolic resistance to essential amino acids and exercise
in elderly populations
The age-associated loss of skeletal muscle mass (sarcopenia), strength and physical function can lead to an
increased risk of falls, institutional care and premature mortality. Therefore, the ageing population
represents a significant clinical, social and economic burden. Consequently, there is an urgent need to
identify effective strategies that maintain skeletal muscle mass and improve physical function and
independence with age.
The loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength with age is multi-factorial and it is likely that an inadequate
protein intake and a sedentary lifestyle are contributor factors. Longitudinal nutritional interventions to
increase muscle mass have explored the effectiveness of essential amino acids (EAAS), leucine, and EAAs
enriched with leucine. However, these studies have presented conflicting findings and may depend on
specific combinations and dose of EAAs. It may also depend on the presence of anabolic resistance, the
blunted anabolic response of skeletal muscle to anabolic stimuli. Studies have reported an anabolic
resistance to EAAs and exercise in the elderly compared with the young, but the underlying molecular
mechanisms are poorly understood.
The PhD will seek to investigate the acute and chronic effects of varied combinations of EAAs, physical
(in)activity and exercise on skeletal muscle and its fibre type-specific responses using a variety of techniques
including immunofluorescence microscopy. More specifically, the principal aims of the proposed research
programme are: a) to investigate the underlying mechanisms of anabolic resistance in an elderly population
b) to investigate to what extent aspects of anabolic resistance can be overcome by physical activity or
nutritional interventions or a combination of both.
Please contact Dr Theocharis Ispoglou for further details
E-mail: T.Ispoglou@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)113 8128603
Or Dr Oliver Wilson
E-mail: O.J.Wilson@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Page 4 of 21
Tel: +44(0)113 8123326
7
Keep Active to Manage Occupational Stress in Higher Education
Work-Related Stress (WRS) has become a common and ubiquitous health problem experienced by UK Higher
Education (HE) staff (Tytherleigh et al., 2005). WRS brings impaired physical and mental health, diminished
psychological functioning, increased work and social conflicts and poor productivity at work. The results of
this problem range from (i) decreased teaching quality, (ii) poorer interactions with students and colleagues,
and (iii) increased working hours and overall workload. The long term effects of this largely avoidable
problem affect individual and collective health and well-being, as well as the academic and the economic
performance of individual institutions. As publicly funded institutes, this is currently a major concern.
Since stress is inevitable in the workplace, it is crucial to design interventions that effectively manage
psychological, physiological and organizational outcomes of WRS and that return lost quality of life and
workplace performance. To date, most interventions in this area have relied merely on psychological
techniques and used only psychological measures to evaluate the impact of interventions on WRS
management. Hence, they fail to evaluate the effects of interventions on physiological and organizational
outcomes of WRS. Considering that Physical Activity (PA) is associated with improved physical, mental
health, coping ability, mood states, cognitive functioning and decreased anxiety, anger, stress and
depression, it seems clear that PA can play an important role in managing WRS. However, the extent of this
relationship is unknown at this stage in time.
To further understand this relationship, the current Ph.D. project will investigate the effects of a PA
intervention on psychological, physiological and organizational outcomes of WRS among HE staff. Findings
from this holistic project will be transferable to professionals in the fields of PA, exercise and occupational
health psychology, as well as being valuable to influence health policies in HE institutes.
Please contact Professor Jim McKenna for further details
E-mail: J.McKenna@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)113 8127483
8
Investigating the Effectiveness of Behavioural Change Interventions with Sedentary/Inactive Hard-toReach/Engage Adults
While the Active People Survey has reported an increase in sport and physical activity (PA) participation,
concerns remain on how best to engage hard-to-reach (HTR) sedentary and inactive adults. Special interest is
reserved for those participants who do not view their inactivity as problematic and who remain disengaged
from PA services. These factors along with other diverse and complex determinants (barriers and facilitators)
can combine to influence the process of changing PA behaviour. Deconstructing the process of behaviour
change into manageable segments or phases can help our understanding of why there is varied success
resulting from PA behaviour change interventions. It has been argued there is a need for greater
understanding of the: (I) phases and sub-phases (segments) of PA behaviour change, (II) the
factors/processes which influence changes in behaviour and (III) which interventions are most efficacious in
meeting changes in PA phase/sub-phase), as this could enable more HTR populations to be active. With
these points in mind, the purpose of this research is to:
1.
Investigate the effectiveness of behaviour change interventions with sedentary/ inactive HTR adults.
2.
Investigate the process by which the proposed behaviour change interventions are implemented
with HTR adults.
3.
Identify the key mediators which facilitate preparedness/improvements in physical activity status by
the proposed interventions.
4.
Revisit the theoretical principles and segments (phases) set out in behavioural change models
Applicants should have an understanding of quantitative and qualitative research methods, physical activity
intervention research and appreciate the contribution of a multi-disciplinary approach to research in this
area. We would envisage that this research could take place in a number of community schemes with which
we are partnered; similarly we would be interested to learn of the views of applicants for how/where this
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research could be developed.
Please contact Dr Andy Pringle for further details
E-mail: A.Pringle@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)113 8127409
9
The Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance (RE-AIM) of activity-permissive
workstations on reducing sedentary time, increasing physical activity and improving health and employee
performance in working adults
Many of the health issues that impact on both the performance of the NHS and of different organisations
emerge from employee lifestyles. Problems are especially pernicious when lifestyles combine extensive
sitting at work and too little overall physical movement. Reducing sitting time in the workplace, initiated
through activity permissive workstations and activity breaks is to likely to both reduce cardiometabolic risk
and improve workplace performance.
Little is known about how widely these behavioural options penetrate employee groups, nor how they are
best promoted, undertaken or sustained. Neither is the overall span of their influence on key markers of
employee performance clear. To-date there are limited published EU data regarding behaviour change
driven sit/stand interventions, their impact and effectiveness. This project therefore provides an
opportunity to add to the growing body of knowledge in this area, as well as to develop research that has
reach and impact in the area of workplace health, wellbeing and performance.
Please contact Dr Zoe Rutherford for further details
E-mail: Z.H.Rutherford@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)113 8124021
10 Do physically active lessons, integrated with learning, enhance self-control in young children?
This research will assess the impact of physical activity (PA) on self-control, a component of executive
function, in young children. The research will complement two current areas of work in Active Lifestyles: 1)
work within schools assessing the impact of PA on cognitive function and 2) the impact of acute and chronic
PA on cognitive function and impulse control in obese children.
The project will explore the acute effect of PA, combined with learning, on self-control in young children.
Low self-control between ages three to 11 is associated with poor health, low wealth, increased risk of
substance abuse and less skilled parenting at age 38 (Moffett et al., 2011). PA could provide a powerful lowcost opportunity to help improve self-control in young children (Diamond, 2012).
A recent review of physically active lessons identifies the need for further research on active learning (Norris
et al., 2015). At present, only a few studies have assessed PA in relation to educational learning, although
there are positive lines of evidence. For example, a recent lab-based study found physically active
mathematics enhanced executive function in lower achieving pupils when compared to a typical sedentary
maths lesson (Vazou & Smiley-Oyen, 2014).
Desk based methods will be used to identify which segments of the national curriculum may be amenable to
the inclusion of PA. Existing studies confirm that the effect of physically active lessons on self-control can be
sensitively assessed through high-quality randomised crossover trials. Physical activity can also be measured
within lessons using high-quality assessment tools. Deploying refined versions of these approaches in the
PhD will afford the opportunity to conduct a number of empirically-based studies that will meet our
aspiration to contribute translational research. This will enhance understanding of how PA influences selfcontrol and how PA-based enhancement of self-control may influence classroom behaviour.
Please contact Professor Jim McKenna for further details
Page 6 of 21
E-mail: J.McKenna@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)113 8127483
11 High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) in the rehabilitation of patients with Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
or Chronic Heart Failure (CHF) - exploring efficacy, safety and mechanisms
This project builds on our current research in cardiac rehabilitation (Heartwatch longitudinal study of
exercise training and mortality) and our previous research on HIIT in healthy low-risk individuals. HIIT use in
healthy and clinical populations has attracted significant attention. Despite the high volume of published
research, there are still several unanswered questions around the effective dose, safety and mechanisms of
improvement when HIIT is applied in CAD and CHF as part of the rehabilitation process. HIIT has not yet
‘made it’ into the international guidelines for exercise prescription for cardiac rehabilitation. Recent metaanalyses have demonstrated this training method’s efficacy in improving both cardiovascular and muscle
metabolic health in patients. The exact mechanisms responsible for these improvements are not always
understood and although authors postulate the manner in which the observed improvements have come
about further research at a cellular and molecular level is needed to confirm the active pathways. The actual
methodology (and research focus) of this project will be determined once a successful candidate is recruited.
It will combine the candidate’s preferences, staff expertise, techniques available through collaborations and
availability of funding. We envisage that a combination of some of the following methods may be employed
appropriately to answer relevant research questions: cardiopulmonary exercise testing, blood tests (e.g.
inflammatory markers, EPCs, disease markers, risk markers), muscle biopsies, immunofluorescence
microscopy, near-infrared spectroscopy, endothelial function (FMD) and IMT.
Please contact Costas Tsakirides for further details
E-mail: C.Tsakirides@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)113 8124716
Or Professor Carlton Cooke
E-mail: C.Cooke@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)113 8127484
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Centre for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
1
An Indifference to Difference? Exploring the intersections of disability, ethnicity, and gender within
Physical Education (PE)
This PhD provides a unique opportunity for a student committed to exploring issues of inequality and
discrimination within Physical Education. It has long been recognised that Physical Education can be an
alienating and difficult space for some groups of young people. For example, research repeatedly highlights
how young disabled students, students from minority ethnic communities and girls can encounter less than
favourable Physical Education experiences. Whilst this research has undoubtedly developed understandings,
it remains limited because disability, ethnicity and gender are often researched separately. Young people’s
identities are much more complex than this. With this in mind, this PhD will explore how disability, ethnicity,
and gender are experienced simultaneously; and how the interplay between these identity markers
influences Physical Education experiences. This study will be situated within school special and mainstream
settings. A key feature of this research will be to centralise the views, thoughts and experiences of the
young people themselves. As such, the research project lends itself to the use of more contemporary
approaches in collecting data with the young people. These approaches will be participatory, creative and
innovative and could include photo elicitation, drawings, scrapbooking, media exploration, and working with
the young people as co-researchers. In adopting these kinds of participatory approaches, young disabled
students from minority ethnic backgrounds will be enabled to authentically engage with the research
process, and ensure their voices are captured and heard. If you are passionate about supporting all young
people to enjoy and express themselves about Physical Education, this PhD will provide the perfect outlet
for your research interests.
Please contact Dr Hayley Fitzgerald for further details
E-mail: H.Fitzgerald@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)113 8127570
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Centre for Sport Coaching and Physical Education
1
What’s so ‘special’ about physical education in special schools
The PhD provides an excellent opportunity for a motivated student to study in the area of special school
physical education. Within physical education it is mainstream settings that have been afforded attention by
researchers. For example, there is a growing body of research that analyses the inclusion of pupils with
special educational needs in mainstream PE from the perspective of teachers, pupils, special educational
needs coordinators and learning support assistants. Whilst this kind of research is valuable, it has not added
to understandings of special school physical education. It is timely to consider special school physical
education given recent claims the current education system is not fit for purpose and, thus, should be
radically restructured to include more special schools. By drawing on the resources found within cultural
studies, critical disability studies and inclusive education this research offers a much needed opportunity to
research a marginalised yet important context of educational provision. If you enjoy engaging critically and
questioning conservational practices within physical education this PhD will offer you an excellent
opportunity to develop further and at the same time engage in a unique research project.
Please contact Dr Hayley Fitzgerald for further details
E-mail: H.Fitzgerald@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)113 8127570
2
Investigating the Effectiveness of Physical Education and School Sport delivered by External Providers
Physical Education and School Sport (PESS) is a complex and politicised context, which has been well
documented in recent times (Philpott and Grix, 2014). It is fair to summarise PESS England, in terms of
subject marginalisation, resource deficit, and policy indifference. PE, in particularly, has been expected to
achieve multiple outcomes (Siedentop, 2002), including the promotion of physical activity through PESS,
which is a major consideration for NICE (2009) in order to support lifelong participation. In the post Olympic
era, and the funding cuts and subsequent dismantling of School Sports Partnership Programme, which was
previously spearheaded by the Youth Sport Trust, the new coalition government announced a new
investment in PESS through the PE and Sport Premium for primary schools. This involved the distribution of
over £450 million directly to primary school head teachers to improve PESS between 2013 and 2016.
This generous investment has resulted in the re-emergence and explosion of a new type of external provider
after a short, but difficult year before the announcement of the PE and Sport premium. The decentralisation
of decision-making on this investment to head teachers has seen an abundance and range of willing external
providers, including small businesses, charities, social entrepreneurs and including professional sport clubs.
These compete to deliver on this lucrative PESS investment. To our knowledge there is very little is known
and even less research the role of external providers working in PESS, especially professional sport clubs
(Parnell et al., 2015 in press).
With those thoughts in mind, this proposed PhD aims to assess the context, motivations and effectiveness
of external providers working in PESS in primary schools.
The purpose of this research is to:
1.Investigate the partnership context and motivations between primary schools and external providers
2.Investigate the delivery models adopted by external providers, which would include the role of and
relationship with the teachers in primary schools.
3.Investigate the effectiveness of delivery of external providers against curriculum and physical activity
outcomes
4.Disseminate impact outcomes to a range of internal and external stakeholders.
Please contact Professor Andrew Sparkes for further details
E-mail: A.C.Sparkes@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Page 9 of 21
Tel: +44(0)113 8123546
3
Coaching for flow: the detection and controllability of positive psychological states in sport
It has long been argued that the positive psychological state known as ‘flow’ is associated with optimum
performance in sport (Jackson & Roberts, 1992). Athletes who can get themselves into ‘the zone’ for
prolonged amounts of time are more likely to experience success than their opponents. At a participation
level, flow is often held to be a causal factor in enjoyment, which, in turn, can lead to sport commitment and
lifelong participation (Weiss & Amorose, 2008). Achieving flow states is an important outcome for
participants and athletes at all levels, and coaches who are able to facilitate flow states are more likely to
help their athletes succeed, whatever their goal.
To date, research on flow has been unable to articulate the mechanisms by which flow occurs. Flow still
remains an elusive and precarious state, with many athletes and coaches believing that it is difficult to
control its occurrence (Swann et al., 2012). This leaves coaches with little information, beyond vague
theoretical prescriptions, to help bring about flow states.
It is anticipated that the PhD will address questions such as:
•
How aware are coaches of psychological states of their athletes?
•
What are the observable characteristics of flow states, if any?
•
What are coaches’ and athletes’ perceptions of how flow states occur?
•
What conditions of learning environments – practice types, coach behaviours etc. – are most
conducive to facilitating flow states?
The project will involve qualitative approaches in order to explore how coaches understand the meaning of
flow. It is likely that video analysis techniques of coaches in action will also be incorporated. The aim of the
project is to develop an intervention programme that will enhance the practice of frontline coaches at
different levels.
Please contact Dr David Piggott for further details
E-mail: D.Piggott@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)113 8127571
4
Active Video Games (AVGs) in Physical Education: The quest for understanding, implication and
application
Research into the use of Active Video Games (AVGs) within Physical Education (PE) has increased in recent
years. To date, research has mainly explored the physical, psychological and to some extent social benefits
of AVG use in PE (Sheehan & Katz, 2013). However, this research is still in its infancy and further
investigation is required to not only understand the magnitude of these effects but also the ways in which
any potential benefit can be harnessed.
Another area yet to be explored is the role AVGs may play in the acquisition of Fundamental Movement
Skills (FMS) (Ennis, 2013), particularly in Primary PE, a crucial stage for the development of physical literacy
(Whitehead, 2010). Moreover, Stodden et al. (2008) suggest that the greater an individual’s perceived
competence with regard to FMS, the more likely they are to engage in a physically active lifestyle beyond
school.
Drawing on quantitative and qualitative approaches, and using multiple methods, the research would aim to
(1) investigate the extent to which Active Video Games (AVG) could contribute to the four learning domains
(i.e. physical, social, cognitive and affective) within Physical Education; (2) understand the pedagogical
implications of implementing AVGs within the Primary Physical Education curriculum and; (3) consider
methods for the applications of AVGs within Primary Physical Education.
Page 10 of 21
Please contact Dr Tom Quarmby for further details
E-mail: T.Quarmby@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)113 8124703
5
Examining the practical utility of implicit motor learning
Contemporary skill acquisition research has devised implicit motor learning paradigms that reduce the
involvement of conscious (or explicit) processes in the learning and performance of motor tasks (see
Masters & Poolton, 2012, for a recent review). Masters, Maxwell, Poolton and colleagues have shown in a
large body of research spanning over two decades that compared to skills learnt in a traditional, explicit
fashion - dependent on working memory to store, recall and manipulate declarative knowledge - implicit
learning paradigms develop skills that display characteristics of automaticity (e.g., multi-tasking capability)
and resilience to common performance stressors (e.g., psychological pressure or physiological fatigue).
Despite its successes, advocates of implicit learning have conceded, “the chances of maintaining implicit
motor learning over the many years that it takes to become an expert seem remote” (Masters et al., 2002,
p.138). Encouragingly, recent work has suggested that a short initial bout of implicit learning could be
sufficient to bestow the benefits associated with learning implicitly (Poolton et al., 2005).
Whilst the implication of such a finding is exciting for the learning of novel tasks, from a practical standpoint
learners are often delivered to practitioners with some degree of task-related explicit learning experience.
The overarching aim of this research project is to examine whether a short bout of implicit learning
following a more extensive period of explicit learning elicits characteristics synonymous with implicitly learnt
skills.
The research will progress from the laboratory to the field in order to evaluate the real-world impact of
implicit learning as a tool to combat common threats to proficient performance (e.g., pressure,
gamesmanship, distractions or fatigue). Outcome measures will be allied to both basic and more advanced
kinematic performance analysis in an attempt to quantify the effect a range of experimental manipulations
have on skilled performance.
Please contact Dr Jamie Poolton for further details
E-mail: J.Poolton@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)113 8123557
Page 11 of 21
Centre for Sports Performance
1
How do athletes make decisions regarding nutritional supplement use? Generating an evidence-base to
inform education
Nutritional Supplement (NS) use is ubiquitous in sport with athletes looking for performance gains or ways
to cope with heightened training demands. Such use involves a balance between potential benefits (e.g.,
meeting acute energy needs) and potential risks (e.g., inadvertent doping). Despite the prevalence of NS
use, the ergogenic effects of many NS are contested and good evidence for efficacy in line with bold
marketing claims is rare. The misuse of NS has raised serious concerns at a global level (e.g., World AntiDoping Agency, International Olympic Committee, European Commission) and it is estimated that over
the last two years 40% of UK Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs), are the result of NS use (UK AntiDoping, 2014). Typically NS use occurs without clinical guidance from trained dieticians and sports
nutrition professionals (Waddington, Malcolm, Roderick, & Naik, 2005) or adequate product information
(e.g., Petróczi, Naughton, Mazanov, Holloway, & Bingham, 2007).
In light of the challenges outlined above, a systematic programme of research is warranted to examine NS
knowledge and factors influencing the decision to use NS in sport. In wider society, reasons for consuming
NS are often complex, combining social, psychological, knowledge and economic factors (Connor et al.
2001). With a lack of primary prevention of NS use in place it is important to understand the reasons
athletes are willing to overlook the potential risks of NS use. Furthermore, we need to gain an in-depth
understanding of how athletes - across the lifespan - view enhancement through supplementation in
order to target prevention programmes accordingly. Educational efforts focused on addressing the ‘need’
for NS, alongside the ‘risk’ may delay or curtail the formation of a belief system in which performance
enhancement and chemical assistance are symbiotic.
This project builds on Leeds Beckett University’s established reputation as a leading research centre
addressing the issue of doping and nutritional supplement behaviours in sport. In line with our strategic
aim to generate a robust evidence-base to inform Clean Sport policy and practice, this PhD programme
addresses the absence of evidence regarding factors influencing athletes’ decision to use NS. As such, the
research findings are likely to be of interest to researchers, practitioners, national and international
sporting bodies and anti-doping organisations alike.
Please contact Professor Susan Backhouse for further details
E-mail: S.Backhouse@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)113 8124684
2
Applications of principles and training of apnoea
Competitive apnoea involves participants holding their breath in water for extended periods. Competitive
disciplines challenge (i) maximum duration of breath hold, (ii) the horizontal distance covered whilst
immersed and holding breath in a swimming pool and (iii) the maximum depth achieved whilst diving.
Training for apnoea improves the performance of apnoea by increasing haematocrit (Hct) and
erythropoietin (EPO) concentration, haemoglobin mass (Hb) and lung volumes (Schagatay et al. 2007, de
Bruijn et al. 2008, Richardson et al. 2008). Furthermore blood acidosis and oxidative stress are reduced
following three months of apnoea training. These adaptations suggest that apnoea training may be an
effective alternative to hypobaric and/or normobaric hypoxia to increase aerobic and/or anaerobic
performance. Recent studies have observed that repeated apnoeas increased EPO concentration by 24%
with peak values achieved 3 hours following the last apnoea and return to baseline 2 hours later (de Bruijn
et al. 2008). These responses are similar to those following exposure to high altitude where 6 hours of
altitude (at 1,780m) showed an increase of 24% in EPO (Eckardt et al. 1989). This evidence suggests that
apnoea training may provide a method of acclimatisation for the conditions experienced during high
altitude mountaineering.
To-date no study has investigated the possible application of apnoea training as an alternative to hypoxic
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training for altitude performance. It is envisaged that the study will include comparisons of acclimation
methods including apnoea and normobaric hypoxia. Evaluation of haematological and physiological
markers in relation to the training methods and exercise performance is likely to feature strongly in the
work.
Please contact Dr Matthew Barlow for further details
E-mail: Matthew.Barlow@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)113 8124022
3
Quantifying the Explosive Characteristics of Elite Soccer Players: Implications for Training Prescription
Guidelines
The proposed project will quantify the movement characteristics of elite players using appropriate
tracking devices to gain an insight into optimising training to improve performance and reduce the
propensity of injury. This is an interdisciplinary project that evaluates the explosive actions of elite players
(biomechanical), translating these patterns into specific training protocols (physiological).
There is scant research relating to the explosive actions of elite players and even less research on
translating time-motion data into training and testing guidelines, especially for explosive metrics. Some
training recommendations that are commonly used with elite soccer players are out-dated and not based
on modern objective time-motion data. Thus further work is warranted in this area. Gaining such
information would be advantageous given that most critical moments during match play are explosive and
that high-intensity training modes that mimic these actions are crucial to the conditioning practices of the
modern player.
The methodological approach might encompass three phases. Phase 1: Collecting elite match
performance data with special reference to explosive movement patterns. Phase 2: Translating the timemotion data into various explosive drills and quantifying the physiological response (heart rate, blood
lactate concentrations, RPE), time-motion characteristics (portable global positioning system devices) and
reproducibility of these drills. Phase 3: An intervention study will be conducted on elite players using
these drills as the training stimulus to assess their impact on physical capacity indices using a standard
battery of soccer-specific tests.
Please contact Dr Paul Bradley for further details
E-mail: Paul.Bradley@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)113 8123323
4
Optimising bone strength and reducing fracture risk in men and women jockeys
Despite the growth of professionalism and widening of participation in horse racing, in comparison to
other sports, jockeys remain under-researched. An ongoing challenge exists within the sport in that
weight management needs to be balanced with optimising health and performance. Current weight
management techniques used by jockeys can lead to weight loss at a costly detriment to bone health and
fracture risk. Essential bone anabolic micronutrients such as calcium and vitamin D are found to be
particularly deficient in elite jockeys. Exacerbating the problem, fracture risk in jockeys is elevated
regardless of bone strength, due to the nature of the sport where falling from the horse is common.
.
This PhD will seek to determine the efficacy and acceptability of strategies to improve bone strength and
reduce fracture injury risk in men and women jockeys. The successful applicant will be based in the Centre
for Sports Performance of Carnegie Faculty. Primary outcomes of the intervention trial will include dual
energy X-ray absorptiometry (Lunar iDXA, GE Healthcare, WI) of bone mineral density, hip bone geometry
and vertebral fracture to determine baseline bone status and any changes in bone after a period of
intervention. Bone metabolism will be assessed using biochemical markers of bone turnover. Vitamin D
levels will be assessed using serum 25 hydroxy vitamin D and total body water will be assessed using our
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novel resonant cavity perturbation device. Acceptability of the interventions amongst jockeys will also be
evaluated. It is anticipated that the findings will have impact within the sport, and potential for translation
to other sports and clinical scenarios where weight management is common practice.
Please contact Dr Karen Hind for further details
E-mail: K.Hind@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)113 8129110
5
Neuromuscular function and musculoskeletal health in retired rugby players
The sport of rugby provides many benefits for those taking part – for some it’s a career, for all it’s about
friendship, enjoyment, fitness and a lifelong love of the game. Along the way, as with any physical
pursuits, there are knocks, niggles and injuries – some more severe than others. Injury risk has increased
in parallel with the introduction of professionalism to the sport, and work completed so far in the Centre
for Sports Performance has revealed a high prevalence of vertebral fracture in current professional rugby
players. However, there remains widespread uncertainty regarding the extent to which playing rugby
affects players over the longer term - for better or worse. Without this knowledge, we can’t maximise the
benefits, while minimising the risks.
This PhD will investigate the long-term effects of rugby on neuromuscular function and musculoskeletal
health in retired international/national and community level rugby players in the UK, in comparison with
age-matched controls who are retired athletes from non-contact sports, and non-athletes. Within group
comparisons will be made between codes and levels of play for rugby. Contributing to the UK extension of
the IRB and AUT Rugby Health Study, the expected impact from this work is significant in that findings will
inform the IRB and governing bodies on any long term implications of playing rugby, so that strategies can
be put in place to ensure that benefits outweigh any risks.
Please contact Dr Karen Hind for further details
E-mail: K.Hind@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)113 8129110
6
Developing adolescent rugby players’ coping skills: Psychosocial aspects and intervention effects
This project builds on an existing collaboration between Leeds Beckett University, Yorkshire Carnegie
RUFC and local independent schools that currently focuses on physiological demands of training and
competing in adolescent rugby players. This research adds a psychological arm to the current research
and will explore how adolescent athletes’ coping strategies and effectiveness develop, with specific
emphasis on the influence of social networks, and will examine the effectiveness of coping interventions
to help athletes develop coping skills. In doing so, the research will adopt a holistic view of stress and
address a number of novel research avenues within this field.
The research programme will incorporate a range of methods, and, to accommodate the dynamic and
recursive nature of the phenomenon under inquiry, the studies within this research programme will
employ a longitudinal approach. Key methods will include season long audio diaries and player interviews.
Audio diaries will be subject to linguistic analysis, representing a novel analysis approach in this field.
Intervention effectiveness will be explored using a multiple baseline intervention study, incorporating
quantitative measures of primary outcomes.
Please contact Dr Joanne Hudson for further details
E-mail: Joanne.Hudson@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)113 8123528
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7
The Benefits of Mindfulness Training on Motor Performance under Pressure
Sub-optimal performance under pressure is anecdotally evident and empirically investigated across a wide
range of sport and professional settings. Theoretical explanations of the phenomenon, for the most part,
agree that the experience of high levels of state anxiety disturb the proficient operation of attention
regulation processes (Eysenck & Calvo, 1992; Masters, 1992). Thus targeted interventions designed to
increase the resilience of attention regulation processes to the effect of pressure should theoretically
result in optimal performances.
Mindfulness was originally defined by Kabat-Zinn (2003) as a psychological capacity to purposefully pay
attention in the present moment with a non-judgmental attitude. Mindfulness interventions, which
incorporate metacognitive awareness training, have shown to have a positive impact on attention control
and emotion regulation (Chambers et al., 2008; Jha et al., 2007), and to reduce emotional reactivity
towards threatening stimuli, resulting in optimal decision-making processes (Kirk et al., 2011). When
analysing mindfulness in the sport context, evidence mainly based in self-report measures suggests that
mindfulness is associated with positive psychological outcomes among athletes. However, little is known
about the effects of mindfulness interventions on objective assessments of performance (Pineau et al.,
2014) under pressure. To consider this gap in the literature, the current project will investigate the
effectiveness of mindfulness training on the performance of motor skills under pressure.
The project integrates understanding of emotional, cognitive, and behavioural measures of performance
in pressure environments, and contributes to a fast developing research theme within the Institute for
Sport, Physical Activity and Leisure at Leeds Beckett University. Outcomes of the project will make a
valuable theoretical contribution to the psychology literature and will simultaneously inform practitioners
across a wide range of motor performance domains.
Please contact Dr Mariana Kaiseler for further details
E-mail: M.H.Kaiseler@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)113 8124026
8
Carbohydrate Dose Response: Substrate Utilisation, Regulation of Muscle Glycogen Metabolism and
Endurance Performance
Carbohydrate (CHO) ingestion can delay the onset of fatigue and enhance endurance performance
(Jeukendrup et al., 1997). This can be explained by the oxidation of ingested CHO providing a true
exogenous source of fuel, that can maintain high plasma glucose concentrations and a high rate of CHO
oxidation late in exercise when muscle glycogen concentrations are low (Coyle et al., 1986). Even though
CHO consumption per se has been well researched, there are several aspects that have not been fully
explored.
The dose of CHO required to optimise substrate utilisation and exercise performance is still a matter of
debate, particularly with regards mode of exercise, timing of ingestion, training status, and environment.
The literature is contrasting with some reporting ~78g per hour of CHO to be optimal (Smith et al., 2012)
while Newell et al. (2014) suggest lower amounts (~40g per hour). There is a need to develop a better
understanding of the effect of CHO dose on substrate utilisation in relation to different exercise
performance scenarios.
The mechanisms through which enzymes regulate muscle glycogen utilisation in response to exercise and
CHO ingestion per se remains poorly understood. Immunofluorescence microscopy has provided a critical
insight into the control of glycogen metabolism and intramuscular triglyceride utilisation by regulatory
enzymes (Prats et al., 2005; Prats et al., 2006; Prats et al., 2013; Prats et al., 2009). However, it is unknown
how varied carbohydrate doses during and after endurance-type exercise affect the cellular distribution of
the regulatory enzymes, their phosphorylation status and their colocalisation with additional regulatory
proteins and cellular structures.
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The PhD is likely to investigate the effects of varied CHO dose, on CHO oxidation and the regulation of
muscle glycogen metabolism. It is anticipated that 13C mass isotope methods and immunofluorescence
microscopy will be used.
Please contact Dr John O’Hara for further details
E-mail: J.OHara@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)113 8125239
9
The effect of Carbohydrate Ingestion and Exercise Intensity on Substrate Oxidation and the Regulation
of Muscle Glycogen Metabolism
Oxidation of carbohydrates (CHO) relative to fat progressively increases with the intensity of exercise. In
addition CHO ingestion can delay the onset of fatigue and enhance endurance performance (Jeukendrup
et al., 1997). This can be explained by the oxidation of ingested CHO providing a true exogenous source of
fuel that in conjunction with liver glycogenolysis can maintain high plasma glucose concentrations and
support high rates of CHO oxidation. Even though CHO consumption per se. has been well researched,
there are several aspects that have not been fully explored.
The literature supports combining different CHO to optimise exogenous oxidation rates. However, these
studies have not assessed these strategies with regard to intensity of exercise and the associated use of
liver and muscle glycogen. Furthermore, studies typically provide the CHO load directly prior to and/or
during exercise. The type and magnitude of response may be different if the CHO load was ingested within
the hour before exercise as well as during exercise.
The mechanisms by which enzymes control glycogen metabolism in response to exercise and CHO
ingestion per se remains poorly understood. Immunofluorescence microscopy has provided insights into
the regulation of glycogen metabolism by glycogen synthase (GS) and glycogen phosphorylase (GP) in
response to CHO ingestion and exercise (Prats et al., 2005; Prats et al., 2013; Prats et al., 2009). However,
it is unknown how varied exercise intensities and carbohydrate ingestion affect the cellular distribution of
GS and GP, their phosphorylation status and their co-localisation with additional regulatory enzymes and
cellular structures.
This PhD is likely to investigate the effects of type and timing of CHO ingestion during exercise of varying
intensity and its effects on CHO oxidation and the regulation of muscle glycogen metabolism. It is
anticipated that 13C mass isotope methods and immunofluorescence microscopy will be used.
Please contact Professor Roderick King for further details
E-mail: R.King@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)113 8121707
10 The effects of verbal sledging on sport performance
Verbal sledging in sport is a topical, which can be considered a morally questionable behaviour. It has
been indicated that sledging can comprise from a relatively mild gibing or banter to derogatory and
malicious comments as well as boastful speech that is intended to demoralise, intimidate or humiliate
opponents (Kerr & Grange, 2009; Rainey & Granito, 2010). Sledging is typically used to provide an
advantage over one’s opponents and some evidence suggests it may result in adverse effects on the
recipients’ performance. That said, it has been also proposed verbal sledging can also be motivational for
the recipient that may facilitate their focus, and in turn, their performance. However, despite the
prevalence and potential implications that sledging can have on sport performance, very little empirical
research has examined the effects of sledging. To this end, this PhD will aim to systemically investigate the
effects of sledging on performance as well as examine potential mediators and moderators.
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This PhD will suit an enthusiastic postgraduate student aiming to pursue research in sport and exercise
psychology with a potential interest in morality, emotion and sport performance who also possesses
interests and strength in quantitative research methods.
Please contact Dr Nick Stanger for further details
E-mail: N.Stanger@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)113 8123525
11 ‘Play clean, win clean’: Developing a morality-based intervention in sport
Antisocial behaviour refers to acts that aim to harm or disadvantage another person. Such behaviours in
sport include deliberately hurting an opponent or teammate as well as cheating related conduct, such as
doping. Such behaviours in sport are prevalent and topical, particularly given that such behavioural
tendencies could potentially be transferred and used in other contexts. The spectre of such antisocial
behaviours casts a shadow over sport and fundamentally challenges the integrity of all involved.
Therefore, research systematically investigating ways to intervene to reduce such behaviours in sport is an
important avenue of enquiry.
Moral behaviour in sport has driven considerable research attention in recent years. Recent research has
highlighted a number of social-cognitive factors that can either facilitate or inhibit antisocial behaviour in
sport. Though, most previous research has been cross-sectional in nature, recent experimental work is
advancing our understanding of the direction of these relationships. However, despite this accumulating
evidence, there is a lack of research that has tested whether an intervention that may target such factors
could help to tackle the development of antisocial behaviour in sport. To this end, this PhD will aim to
design, develop and refine an appropriate social-cognitive based intervention which will be piloted and
systemically tested to determine its effectiveness in reducing youth athletes’ antisocial tendencies and
promote prosocial interactions in sport. This PhD will suit an enthusiastic postgraduate student aiming to
pursue research in sport and exercise psychology with a potential interest in morality, emotion and sport
performance.
Please contact Dr Nick Stanger for further details
E-mail: N.Stanger@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)113 8123525
12 A biomechanical analysis of the golf swing to investigate technique and movement variability
Currently there is a lack of consensus within the golf coaching manuals and golf magazines around how
the golf swing should be performed. Authors advocate using elite player swings as templates for
recommendations for correct technique. This contrasts with contemporary scientific thinking about skill
technique and movement performance (Bartlett et al., 2007; Preatoni et al., 2013).
The golf swing consists of a complex sequence of movements and there are many combinations of body
tilt, bend and rotation that can produce the same club orientation and velocity: the well-known problem
of motor redundancy (Bernstein, 1967). Different styles, or techniques, of golf swing have been identified
in golf coaching literature (Ball & Best, 2007) yet little scientific work has been performed in this respect
(Ball & Best, 2007). The research would need to emphasise multiple, single individual research paradigms
that evaluate individual ‘style’ within particular techniques, while also identifying variables that
characterise a particular technique as being distinct.
This research will investigate concepts of inter- and intra-subject differences in technique and movement
variability in the golf swing in order to better understand and ultimately help improve coaches’ knowledge
of different swing styles. To achieve these aims the PhD programme will incorporate the use of traditional
biomechanical data capture techniques (e.g. 3-D kinematics and kinetics) but will require the investigation
of technique and movement variability with more complex mathematical techniques to be developed in
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conjunction with the successful student. Analysis work will involve developing proficiency in modelling
software such as Visual 3D or other similar programmes. Development of programming skills on platforms
such as Matlab will be encouraged to streamline the data analysis aspects of the project.
Please contact Dr Catherine Tucker for further details
E-mail: C.B.Tucker@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)113 8126703
13 Mental Toughness in Sport & Exercise: Verification and Application of Key Constructs
Mental Toughness (MT) is a well-established yet hotly-debated concept within the sport psychology
literature. For the last 15 years or so, MT has been studied in great depth, with a range of definitions and
measurement tools having been postulated and developed (e.g., Connaughton et al., 2010; Jones et al.,
2002; Sheard et al., 2009). However, MT remains an essentially contested concept (e.g., Gucciardi et al.,
2012) and, therefore, a popular topic for contemporary investigation.
Although the positive association between MT and sport performance has been frequently reported in the
literature (e.g., Connaughton et al., 2010; Crust & Clough, 2005), there has been little examination of the
extent to which MT might impact on physical health and/or psychological well-being. Moreover, the
mechanisms which underpin the link between MT and peak performance in achievement contexts such as
sport have not been sufficiently identified or explained by the research published to-date. Additionally,
the degree to which MT can be trained and developed as an attribute or characteristic has been often
deliberated yet repeatedly neglected within the published literature. Research which addresses the above
issues would have important implications for a wide range of stakeholders (e.g., high-performing athletes,
exercise and health professionals) regarding the application of interventions designed to harness the
benefits of MT within the contexts of sport, exercise, and public health.
It is anticipated that the programme of research will primarily consist of experimental research designs
and quantitative data collection/analysis techniques. Qualitative research methods, although unlikely to
be conducted frequently, may be deemed appropriate to answer specific research questions.
Aims of the proposed research:
(1)
Explore and critically assess existing constructs reported to be closely associated with MT, with
attempts to identify links between MT and psychological health/well-being;
(2)
Develop and evaluate interventions intended to address practical implications of MT in sport
and/or exercise contexts.
Please contact Dr Andrew Manley for further details
E-mail: A.J.Manley@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)113 8124717
14 Occupational Stress, Health, and Well-Being Among Sport Coaches
There are 1.1 million sport coaches in the United Kingdom who deliver sport to 10 million participants
each year (Sports Coach UK, 2015). Worldwide, football coaches, for example, are responsible for
unlocking the athletic potential of 269 million players. To facilitate optimal performance, coaches require
refined skills for coping with stressful events and for maintaining their health and well-being. While the
demanding nature of the coaching profession is well known (see e.g., Knight, Reade, Selzler, & Rogers,
2013), little is known about coaches’ specific stress experiences. These experiences lay the foundations for
coaches’ health and well-being (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984) and, therefore, academic attention in this area
should be of paramount importance. Some studies have explored the stressors that coaches experience
(e.g., Thelwell, Weston, Greenlees, and Hutchings, 2008) and the coping strategies that they use (e.g.,
Olusoga, Butt, Maynard, & Hays, 2010; Thelwell, Weston, & Greenlees, 2010) but this research has not
enhanced knowledge of the complex nature of stress transactions and related health and well-being
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outcomes (cf. Lazarus, 1999). This information provides a compelling suggestion that the study of stress,
health, and well-being in coaches should be a priority for sport psychology researchers.
A systematic programme of research is proposed to develop knowledge relating to coaches’ stress
experiences, their occupational health, and their psychological well-being. This will provide an evidencebased platform for the development of research in the area and presents a talented and committed
candidate with a novel and exciting opportunity. In light of the potential application of the findings, the
research is likely to be of interest to researchers, practitioners, and National Governing Bodies alike.
Please contact Dr Faye Didymus for further details
E-mail: F.Didymus@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)113 8126709
Sport Business & Sports Marketing
1
Sports sponsorship and the (in)visible athlete
Page 19 of 21
The PhD/ GTA opportunity provides an excellent opportunity for a motivated student to study and teach in
an expanding area in the lead up to Rio 2016. The PhD project will enable someone interested in sports
sponsorship to specialise in the emergent field of disability sport sponsorship. Whilst it has long been
recognised that non-disabled athletes have increasingly become assets used through sponsorship to
endorse a broad range of products and services, disabled athletes are often positioned at the margins of
any commercial sporting interests. Significantly, the recent 2012 Paralympics has signalled a turning point
for (re)positioning and challenging traditional notions of disability within sponsorship discourses. Indeed,
the ‘supercrip’ narrative has become much more attractive to potential sponsors. These developments
raise a number of critical questions around: the motives of sponsors for targeting disabled athletes; the
benefits anticipated and realised by sponsors and athletes; and the perceptions of spectators consuming
disability sport sponsorship. Uniquely, this project will seek to address these questions in the lead up to
Rio 2016 by utilising emergent thinking found within sports sponsorship and exploring this in relation to
contemporary notions of disability, and its interrelationship with sport. The research will explore the issue
of sponsoring elite disabled athletes from the perspectives of the athletes, sponsors and spectators. It is
anticipated data will be collected through content analysis of disability sports sponsorship media coverage,
stakeholder questionnaires and interviews. Other approaches will centralize the experiences of elite
athletes through video diaries; and the development and creation of ‘digital collages’ of key sporting
events.
Please contact Dr Hayley Fitzgerald for further details
E-mail: H.Fitzgerald@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)113 8127570
2
The Business of Successful Leadership in Sport
The PhD opportunity provides an excellent opening for a student to study and teach in the rapidly
expanding discipline of sport business management. Moreover, the PhD research provides a unique
opportunity for a student wishing to explore the concept of successful leadership across a range of sport
business contexts. Whilst research exists that explores the notion of leadership in sport, this tends to focus
on coaching and the management of professional teams. Similarly, the concept of successful leadership
has been a key focus within business settings. This research will complement existing studies, whilst
extending understandings, by unifying work from two different disciplines. The study will also offer an
alternative perspective by drawing from individualistic and contextual leadership schools of thought. For
example, the research shall explore the notion of leadership as an identity that interplays with other
individual identity markers. Additionally, the study will focus on how individual leadership identity
intersects with the sports landscape; the kinds of challenges and opportunities that this creates; and how
these are negotiated and navigated. A key feature of the study will be the range of methods used. It is
anticipated that quantitative and qualitative, traditional and more contemporary approaches will be
drawn upon to fully explore leaders’ insights and experiences. These methods could include for example,
observation of leaders, validated questionnaires to colleagues and co-workers, and a series of interviews.
To compliment these more traditional methods, participatory approaches will also be used to involve
those being researched being more included in the research process. Participatory methods often involve
the creation of research artefacts by the researched and have the potential to generate more meaningful
data. These could include video diaries, digital photo biographical boards, and blogs or podcasts of key
events and critical incidents.
Please contact Dr Lisa O’Keeffe for further details
E-mail: L.Okeeffe@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)113 8123794
3
The role of ‘trust’ in executive sports industry recruitment
This PhD project is focused on Human Resource Management (HRM) and the recruitment of executives
Page 20 of 21
within elite professional sport.
Within organizational settings, trust is widely regarded as a powerful predictor of employee performance
and of positive day-to-day behaviours, including loyalty, commitment, citizenship and psychological wellbeing. However, the issue of how to evaluate and confirm prospective and current employees’
trustworthiness remains a significant practical challenge within HRM and in the sports industry. Although
trust is one of the central determinants of employee engagement, several interrelated variables make a
contribution here. This holistic doctoral research will aim to establish a better understanding of the
relatedness of both past and future performance/behaviours. A key and innovative feature of the study
will be the focus on qualitative analysis of current models of executive recruitment. It is anticipated that
senior and experienced managers within the HRM industry will be interviewed to establish ‘best practice’.
The findings will lead to the testing of a new ‘conceptual model’ of executive recruitment.
Please contact Professor Jim McKenna for further details
E-mail: J.McKenna@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)113 8127483
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