XNB165 Exercise and Sport Psychology
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | XNB165 |
|---|---|
| Equivalent(s): | XNB175 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | The Commonwealth supported place student contribution amount for this unit depends upon the course of study. Find out more |
| Pre-2021 CSP student contribution | The pre-2021 commonwealth supported place (CSP) contribution amount only applies to students enrolled in a course prior to 2021. To learn more, visit our Understanding your fees page. |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $3,456 |
| International unit fee | $4,932 |
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2026, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | XNB165 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Equivalent: | XNB175 |
Overview
As you move towards being an exercise and health professional it is essential to appreciate the impact people's psychology can have on their well-being and ability to regularly engage in physical activity, exercise, or sport. This unit introduces you to a range of theories and models of exercise and sport behaviour, and psychological factors that influence participation in physical activity, exercise and sport. It also examines the relationship between physical activity, exercise and sport and psychological wellbeing, and provides you with basic knowledge and skills for helping increase people's physical activity, exercise and sport levels. This unit prepares you for and complements study to be undertaken in XNB375 Applied Exercise and Sport Psychology.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Describe and discuss the role of psychology for understanding the motivation behind people's engagement with exercise;
- Identify and classify barriers and facilitators to exercise engagement and sedentary behaviour across culturally and socio-economically diverse populations
- Describe theoretical approaches and models to behaviour change and use these models to critically review physical activity programs
- Recognise and evaluate the psychological consequences of exercise participation; and
- Develop foundational teamwork skills for an exercise professional
Content
The topics covered in this unit have been developed to provide you with a broad introduction to the role of psychology in sport and exercise sciences. Major topics include:
- Psychology in exercise and sport science
- Behaviour change models and barriers and facilitators to exercise and sport adoption and maintenance across culturally and socio-economically diverse populations
- Experiencing exercise - a psychological perspective
Learning Approaches
The unit will make extensive use of web-based resources, case based scenarios, podcasts, delivered via a blended learning approach, where you will engage in collaborative activity with peers and tutors. The oral presentation assessment will be done in groups, where you will develop teamwork skills during tutorial with support from the learning and teaching team.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Feedback to Students
Assessment will be spaced throughout the semester to provide the opportunity for feedback on your learning to that point. Feedback in this unit is provided to you in the following ways:
- You will be provided with verbal and/or written feedback on each piece of formative and summative assessment during the semester;
- criteria sheet grading;
- comments on summative assessment work in addition to criteria sheets; and
- generic comments back to the cohort via QUT Canvas
You are encouraged to communicate with the unit coordinator or unit tutor if you have any questions or concerns about the assessment items.
Assessment
Overview
General Assessment Information
Each assessment item is designed to measure your knowledge and mastery of the unit learning outcomes.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Journal Article Review
To gain a feel for the topics and research methodology in the field of exercise psychology, you are to review one article identified in a relevant exercise psychology journal (e.g., Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, Psychology of Sport and Exercise, International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology). Your review will include a discussion of the article content, your thoughts on the findings, and how the topic connects with your own personal interests.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details page for specific guidelines.
Assessment: Exercise Behaviour Change in Practice: Model Review and Strategy Innovation
In small groups, you will develop a practical-based session and give a presentation. The aim of this presentation will be to critically review a health behaviour change model and use it to (i) examine an existing physical activity program in Australia, and (ii) inform an innovative strategy that could be implemented by an exercise scientists to increase people’s physical activity levels and communicated to relevant persons or groups in the general community that might benefit from the program.
The use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools is NOT authorised during this assessment. Unauthorised use may be treated as a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and appropriate penalties imposed.
Assessment: Written Examination
An examination including questions derived from lectures, tutorials, and readings. The exam will comprise a combination of multiple choice, and 1/2 page responses to stimulus questions that you will be provided in advance.
The use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools is NOT authorised during this assessment. Unauthorised use may be treated as a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and appropriate penalties imposed.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
There is no prescribed textbook for this unit.
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit. You will be invited to participate in health and fitness assessments within this unit. You will complete and conduct the standard exercise pre-screening tool to ensure the participant is safe to participate in the activity. Guidelines for test termination will also be followed as outline by the American College of Sports Medicine.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.XN50 Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science
- Apply problem-solving, critical thinking, and analytical reasoning to implement, analyse and evaluate evidence-based interventions for diverse clients and stakeholders.
Relates to: Journal Article Review, Exercise Behaviour Change in Practice: Model Review and Strategy Innovation
XN55 Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science (Honours)
- Design and deliver advanced exercise assessments and programs to meet the specific needs of contemporary sport, exercise and health contexts.
Relates to: Exercise Behaviour Change in Practice: Model Review and Strategy Innovation - Critically apply problem-solving, innovative thinking, and analytical reasoning to develop, implement and evaluate evidence-based interventions for diverse clients and stakeholders.
Relates to: Journal Article Review, Exercise Behaviour Change in Practice: Model Review and Strategy Innovation, Written Examination - Communicate and collaborate effectively using a range of written, oral and digital formats to transfer complex knowledge to clients and sport and exercise professionals in an inclusive and culturally responsive manner.
Relates to: Exercise Behaviour Change in Practice: Model Review and Strategy Innovation - Design and execute research in sport and exercise science contexts and disseminate findings that contribute to the sustainability of sport and exercise research and practice.
Relates to: Journal Article Review