Course Description

Assignments

Class Meetings & Labs

Evaluation & Grading

Required Texts

Special Concerns

Course Requirements

Learning Outcomes

Empirical Article Presentations

Course Description:

Students will be introduced to sport and exercise psychology research concerning the learning and performance of motor skills. Particular consideration will be given to individual differences and special populations. Upon completion of the class students should have an understanding of current motor learning principles and theories as well as sport and exercise psychology approaches to such constructs as personality, motivation, goal setting, arousal, stress, anxiety, group dynamics, leadership, moral development, and exercise adherence.

Course Topics

Current and Classic Motor Learning Theories Theoretical orientations in Sport & Exercise Psychology Personality Achievement Motivation & Competitiveness

Arousal, Stress, & Anxiety Competition & Cooperation Feedback, Reinforcement, & Intrinsic Motivation Goal Setting Self-Confidence

Group and Team Dynamics Leadership Communication Exercise and Psychological Well-Being

Exercise Adherence Psychological Growth & Development through Sport Aggression in Sport Character Development & Sportspersonship

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Class Meetings: Lecture and Labs

Lecture and Lab participation are required aspects of this course. Lab work experiences are to illustrate and support the principles studied in readings, lectures, and class discussions.

Lectures are: Monday and Wednesday 8 - 9:15 am

Labs are: Monday OR Wednesday 9:20 - 11:50 am

To get credit for a lab students are required to:

Be on time

Participate fully

Stay for the entire lab

Required Texts:

• Weinberg, R.S. & Gould, D. (1999). Foundations of Sport and Exercise Psychology
  
• Carlton, E. Lab Notebook/Supplemental Reader

Course Requirements

• Students are expected to attend class on time and prepared to participate in discussions and lab experiences. Excessive absences or lateness will likely impact upon the quality of participation and the student's grade.
  
• Students are required to complete of all assignments, labs, and tests (quizzes, midterm, final).

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Examinations

Examinations will consist of short answer and essay questions. Quizzes will cover the current reading (text & reader), lecture & lab material. Some will be announced ahead of time, others will be of the pop quiz variety.

The Midterm will cover first half of the course and the Final Exam will emphasize material presented in the second half of the course and will include material from the first half of the course.

All exams should be taken at their scheduled time.

Make-up exams --at the instructors discretion

• If instructor is notified at least 24 hours in advance, the exam may be made-up within 2 days for full credit.
• If instructor is notified less than 24 hours in advance, exam can be made-up later that day for full credit or 10% deduction -at instructor's discretion. Thereafter exam may be made-up at 10% deduction in grade per day.

Assignments

• All out of class assignments MUST BE TYPED and handed in ON TIME in lecture or in lab in person.
  
• Late assignments accepted with permission only; points will be deducted.
  

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Grading:

Total points will be considered in the final grade, drawn from all assignments, tests, class attendance and participation (600 points possible).

Total Possible Points:

Quizzes	=	80	Group Project	=	30
Midterm	=	100	Labs	=	175
Achievement Goal Project	=	70	Final exam	=	100
Empirical Research	=	35	Class Summary	=	10
			Total	=	600

Final Grades will be calculated on the following basis:

	A	(95%)	570 to 600		B-	(82%)	492 to 509		D+	(68%)	408 to 431
	A-	(90%)	540 to 569		C+	(78%)	468 to 491		D	(65%)	390 to 407
	B+	(88%)	528 to 539		C	(75%)	450 to 467		D-	(60%)	372 to 389
	B	(85%)	510 to 527		C-	(70%)	432 to 449		F	(<60%)	< 372

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Notes/Special Concerns

1. Be prepared to start working on class assignments right away. The course is designed in such a way that assignments and tests are distributed throughout the semester not truncated toward the end of the semester.
2. Be sure to keep a copy of all assignments to be handed in.
3. The best way to communicate with me is through e-mail (ellen.carlton@sonoma.edu). While you can leave phone messages on my voice mail (664-3918) I return very few phone messages.
4. Graded assignments and quizzes will be handed back in class once. If you are not there at that time you can pick the assignment/quiz up in my office during office hours.

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Learning Outcomes:

By completion of this course students should be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of current and classic motor learning theories.
  
• Demonstrate an understanding of the process of learning and effective teaching pedagogy emphasizing transfer of learning, demonstration and modeling, and specific, positive, appropriate feedback.
  
• Demonstrate an understanding of current sport and exercise psychology theories and constructs.
  
• Recognize the physical, social, and emotional developmental changes that occur in learning and performing motor skills in sport and exercise settings over the life span and with respect to individual differences and special populations.
  
• Implement effective motivational strategies emphasizing intrinsic motivation, perceived competence, mastery orientation and persistence.
  
• Demonstrate an understanding of the skills necessary to work effectively with people in a variety of contexts and settings (communication, group/team building skills, leadership, acceptance of individual differences)
  
• Identify desirable behaviors in sport and exercise settings for athletes, coaches, teachers, athletic trainers, physical therapist and other Kinesiology related professions and structure experiences to develop responsibility for such behaviors in each individual.
  
• Identify psychological constructs relevant to participants in sport and exercise settings and investigate the empirical research relating to these constructs in appropriate sport and exercise academic journals.
  
• Design and complete an Achievement Goal Project involving either the implementation of an exercise program or the learning/improving of a motor skill.
  
• Be sufficiently familiar with the basic principles of goal setting to motivate individuals toward immediate and long range goals.
  

Resources