EXERSCI 307 : Psychology of Physical Activity

Science

2025 Semester Two (1255) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Introduction to the study of psychology as it relates to physical activity, sedentary behaviour and health. Key concepts include exercise motivation, mental health benefits of exercise, models of behaviour change, intervention design, special populations, and the relationship to the underlying neurophysiology and implications for physical activity behaviour.

Course Overview

This course provides an introduction to the study of psychology as it relates to physical activity and sedentary behaviour. During this course, we will examine the relationship between physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and various physiological and psychological health outcomes. In addition, we will consider theories of exercise motivation and behaviour change and apply these theories to design evidence-based interventions that aim to increase physical activity behaviour in general and special populations.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 45 points passed at Stage II or III Restriction: EXERSCI 204, SPORTSCI 204

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Science

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Describe the relationship between physical activity, sedentary behaviour and different health outcomes (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
  2. Recognize and explain the different psychological and non-psychological determinants of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in healthy individuals and some special populations (Capability 1, 3, 4 and 5)
  3. Identify and explain different models of behaviour change that guide the promotion of physical activity (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
  4. Review and synthesize existing evidence to advocate the promotion of physical activity in real-world contexts (Capability 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6)
  5. Apply knowledge of outcomes and determinants of physical activity behaviour, along with theories of behaviour change, to design evidence-based exercise interventions (Capability 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Essay 25% Individual Coursework
Exercise Intervention Presentation 25% Group & Individual Coursework
Portfolio 10% Individual Coursework
Tests 40% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Essay
Exercise Intervention Presentation
Portfolio
Tests

Key Topics

The course is divided in 2 modules, covering: 

i) physical activity outcomes and determinants (week 1-6);
ii) behaviour change and intervention design (week 7-12).

Special Requirements

All assessments need to be completed in order to pass the course.

Tuākana

Exercise Sciences has a dedicated Tuākana space at the City Campus 301-183 [1]. Exercise Sciences Tuākana space consists of several personal computers, a collection of prescribed textbooks of Exercise Sciences courses, personal study and relaxing areas with access to shared kitchen facilities. Tuākana students [2] enrolled in any Exercise Sciences course are most welcome to make use of these facilities, not only to support their learning but also to build whanaungatanga. Feel free to contact Waruna, the Exercise Sciences Tuākana coordinator, on waruna.w@auckland.ac.nz for any questions.
If there is interest from the students, we will establish an EXERSCI 307 Tuākana community with sessions to share course-related experiences.
[1] https://maps.auckland.ac.nz/wayfinding?type=poi&selectedLocation=1000021002
[2] https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/on-campus/student-support/personal-support/academic-learning-support/tuakana.html

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 24 hours of lectures, 10 hours of tutorial sessions, 36 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 80 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including selected tutorials to complete components of the course. Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials will not be available as recordings. The course will not include live online events. Attendance on campus is not required for the exam. Course lectures are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable (one 2-hour lecture per week). Tutorial sessions (1.5 hours each) are scheduled in weeks 2, 5, 7, 10 and 12.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

1. Biddle, Mutrie, & Gorely (2021). Psychology of Physical Activity (4th Ed). Routledge
2. Selected journal articles

Student Feedback

During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.

At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.

Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.

In 2023, course satisfaction was 100%.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.

You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.