University of Lincoln RIF Studentships 2014
PROJECT DETAILS
Project Title
Investigating the relationship between mental toughness and flow in sport/exercise
Project Reference
RIF2014S-18
Project Summary
Applications are invited for a PhD studentship based in the School of Sport and
Exercise Science at the University of Lincoln from outstanding, highly-motivated
students with interests in the study of mental toughness and flow.
Mental toughness is one of the most important positive psychological attributes
associated with athletic success, enabling sports people to remain committed and
resilient in the face of adversity, to thrive under pressure, perceive challenges where
others see threats, and to stay focused and in control regardless of prevailing
circumstances.
Similarly, flow (also known as being in “the zone") is an optimal psychological state in
which people are challenged to their limits yet confident in their ability to meet these
demands. This balance between challenge and ability results in a highly focused and
motivated experience which is extremely enjoyable and rewarding.
Flow is associated with peak athletic performance, making it highly desirable for
athletes, and yet it is reported to occur rarely and to be elusive. Because of the links
to optimal performance, mental toughness and flow are high profile research themes
within sport and exercise psychology.
The successful PhD candidate will investigate the relationship between mental
toughness and flow in sport, exercise, or physical activity within the context of
relevant outcomes (e.g. performance, wellbeing).
An understanding of individual differences is desirable. It is anticipated that the
project will be a mixed-method design, so proposals from participants who are strong
in both qualitative and quantitative methods are particularly welcomed.
Supervisory Team
1. Dr Lee Crust, Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology, Lincoln School
of Sport and Exercise Science. http://staff.lincoln.ac.uk/lcrust
2. Dr Christian Swann, Lecturer in Sport Psychology, School of Sport and Exercise
Science. http://staff.lincoln.ac.uk/cswann
Informal Enquiries
Candidates are encouraged to contact potential research supervisors for informal
discussions and should form their own research plans. For further information,
please contact Dr Lee Crust by email: lcrust@lincoln.ac.uk or by telephone: +44
(0)1522 886803.
Eligibility
All Candidates must satisfy the University’s minimum doctoral entry criteria for
studentships of an honours degree at Upper Second Class (2:1) or an appropriate
Masters degree or equivalent. A minimum IELTS (Academic) score of 7 (or
equivalent) is essential for candidates for whom English is not their first language.
Funded Studentships are open to both UK/EU students unless otherwise specified .
How to Apply
Please send a covering letter outlining your interest and proposed approach (up to 1
page A4) with an accompanying CV to studentshipscss@lincoln.ac.uk by close of
day on 18th April 2014.
Candidates will be notified w/c 5th May of the outcome of the process and if invited to
interview, these are anticipated to take place w/c 26h May.