Research

Staff research interests

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Dr Alan MacPherson

Lecturer

Sport, Physical Education and Health Sciences (SPEHS)

Email: alan.macpherson@ed.ac.uk

Tel: +44 (0)131 651 6647

Location:

St Leonard's Land

Background

Prior to working and studying at the University of Edinburgh I completed my undergraduate degree at Queen Margaret University College and did a Masters degree in Research methods in Psychology at the University of Strathclyde. In fallow periods and in addition to my studies, I coached rugby, worked in book shops and libraries and carried out some student demonstrator work. In 2002, I started another Masters degree in Performance psychology at the University of Edinburgh.

Between 2003 and 2006 I completed my Phd in ‘Utilising rhythmicity to optimise the execution of gross motor function’, became accredited as a BPS Sport & Exercise Psychologist, started lecturing in the Institute for Physical Education, Sport and Health Sciences, and worked for the Rugby Football Union Elite Refereeing Unit. My main research interests are in optimising the execution of gross motor skills and in the study of the acquisition of decision making expertise across a spectrum of physical and social settings.

In recent years I have undertaken significant research for UK Athletics and UK Sport and am currently responsible for masters level courses on the MSc Performance Psychology; BSc Applied Sport Science; and BEd Physical Education programmes.

I am a reviewer for two academic journals; the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology and the International Journal of Sport Psychology. Interests include mountain biking and playing golf (erratically).

Principal interests

Research Methodology
Planning for performance
Instructional Methods
Decision making in Group Dynamics
Expertise and decision making

Current and recent research

Motor control: Preferred Cadence in expert and novice cyclists and their relationship with bioenergetic efficiency.
Examining patterns of movement in elite athletes with a view to optimising perceptual control.
Determining optimal mental focus in the execution of self-paced motor skill.
Evaluating the effect of ‘sources of information’ on the learning and execution of gross motor skills.
Group dynamics and expert decision making

Research Student Supervision:

I currently supervise the following PhD students:

Hugh Richards - Performance Psychology
Raymond Bobrownicki – ‘Utilising sources of information to assist in the learning and execution of gross motor skill.’

Publications

Publications list for Dr Alan MacPherson

Teaching

Planning & Instruction for performance
Group dynamics in performance teams
Sport Psychology – the individual
Research Methods
BSc (Hons) Thesis supervision
MSc Supervision
PhD Supervision