2 Module Assessment

There are two elements to module assessment.

2.1 Element One: Coursework (20%)

Each week, we’ll conclude the class with a group discussion. Working in groups of three or four, you’ll be asked to engage in a discussion based on a prompt.

The purpose of these discussions is to help you explore the topic in greater detail, to draw on your own experience, and to learn from others.

Each week, you are required to write and upload a short summary of your group’s discussion. This should be around 150 words in length. The summary should be uploaded by the Friday of each week (deadline 5pm).

For each satisfactory coursework response you upload, you will receive 10% towards the grade for this element. In other words, if you upload six responses out of a possible ten, you will be given a grade of 60% for this element.

2.2 Element Two: Reflective essay (80%)

The second assessment for the module is a 1,500 written assignment.

This assessment is due on Monday 16th December 2024, with a cut-off submission time of 5pm. Late work will be subject to the normal penalties, as outlined in the Course Handbook.

Extension requests of up to seven days can be submitted to the Course Support Team within the Department of Psychological Sciences and Health. For more information on extension requests, please refer to the Course Handbook.

Essay prompt

Describe a concept or theory we’ve covered during the module, provide historical context, identify a contemporary issue, apply the concept or theory to this issue, and evaluate its usefulness.

Your essay should be structured in five sections, specifically:

A section in which you define and describe the concept or theory you have chosen.
A section in which you summarise some historical or contextual information about the concept or theory.
A section in which you identify and summarise a relevant, compelling question or issue in contemporary sport.
A section in which you demonstrate how the concept or theory can be applied to your chosen issue or question.
A final section in which you evaluate the usefulness of the concept or theory as it relates to your chosen issue or question.

The overall grade for this assessment will be a weighted average of these six individual elements, rounded up to the nearest whole number. Sections 1, 2 and 3 are worth 15% of the final grade for the assignment, and sections 4 and 5 are worth 20%. The grade for presentation is worth 15% of the final grade for the assignment.

The assignment has a mandatory word count of 1,500 words. There are no minimum or maximum requirements for each of the five sections, however I would suggest aiming for around 300 words for each section listed below. You may wish to write slightly fewer words for the first section, and slightly more words for the fourth section.

Task breakdown

Sections One and Two

The first two parts of the task involve the selection of a concept or theory from the list covered during the module. For example, you might select ‘Normative Behaviour’ as the concept you wish to focus on.

A list of concepts can be found here and a list of theories here.

In the first and second parts of the assignment, you are asked to provide a clear definition of the concept or theory. This is an opportunity for you to demonstrate that you understand the concept or theory, and the kind of behavior to which it refers. You are asked to provide three references to support your definition. In high-scoring assignments, it is likely that different aspects of the concept or theory have been highlighted in this first section.

For example, you may find that different authors have described the concept in different ways, or that how it is understood has changed over time. It is likely that you will need to include other concepts to show how your concept is different. In addition, you are asked in the second section to describe how the concept emerged, that is, when and why was introduced into the literature? Was it to do with a particular social or cultural behavior that someone felt could be explained a particular way? Was it build on the work of other writers?

Section Three

In the third part of the assignment, you are asked to identify and describe a current issue or question in contemporary sport. This might be something that you are aware of in a sport you play (for example, using performance-enhancing drugs) or an issue that you are aware of more generally (for example, low rates of participation in physical activity in the population).

You should describe the issue or question and provide evidence for your claim that this matters.

Sections Four and Five

In the fourth and fifth parts of the assignment, you should explore how the concept or theory you have chosen can be useful.

There are two main ways your choice could be useful:

It helps explain why the issue or question occurs: This could involve using your concept or theory to provide insights into the underlying reasons or mechanisms behind the contemporary issue you identified.

You might think about the following:

Causal Factors: How does the concept or theory explain the root causes of the issue? For instance, if your issue is the lack of diversity in sports leadership, you might use Critical Race Theory to explain systemic barriers and biases that contribute to this problem.
Behavioural Insights: How does the theory help to understand the behaviours of individuals or groups involved in the issue? For example, using Social Identity Theory to explain why athletes might form in-group and out-group dynamics, leading to conflicts or exclusion.

It can be used to inform strategies or initiatives to address the issue or question: Here, you could discuss how the concept or theory can guide the development of effective solutions or interventions.

You might think about the following:

Policy Recommendations: What policies could be implemented based on the insights from your concept or theory? For example, if using Self-Determination Theory to address athlete burnout, you might recommend policies that enhance autonomy, competence, and relatedness in training environments.
Practical Interventions: What specific actions or programs can be designed using the concept or theory? For example, using Motivational Interviewing techniques grounded in Self-Determination Theory to support athletes in setting and achieving personal goals.
Educational Initiatives: How can the concept or theory inform awareness and education initiatives? For example, employing the Theory of Planned Behavior to design a campaign aimed at reducing doping in sports by targeting attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control.

In your final (fifth) section, you should conclude by evaluating whether the concept or theory is useful (or not) in helping respond to the issue or question.

Referencing

Your essay should include relevant references drawn from the academic literature. You must reference these using the appropriate APA7 formatting guidelines.

2.3 Calculation of your final grade

The final grade is calculated by taking the grade for the coursework element and weighting it at 20%. This is then added to the grade for the written assignment element, which is weighted at 80%.

The total of these grades is the final grade for the module. For example, you 75% for the coursework element, and 65% for the written assignment. The calculation for the final grade is (75*0.2) + (65*0.8) = 15 + 52 = 67. A final grade of 67% is entered in your myplace gradebook.