Dr Alan MacPherson
Deputy Head of Institute for Sport, Physical Education and Health Sciences (ISPEHS) / Programme Director: MSc Performance Psychology / Lecturer
- Moray House School of Education and Sport, ISPEHS
- University of Edinburgh
Contact details
- Tel: +44 (0)131 651 6647
- Email: alan.macpherson@ed.ac.uk
Address
- Street
-
Moray House School of Education and Sport, SL
- City
- University of Edinburgh (Holyrood Campus)
- Post code
- EH8 8AQ
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 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 three academic journals: the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, The Jounal of Sports Sciences and the International Journal of Sport Psychology
Postgraduate teaching
- Dynamics in performance teams
Areas of interest for supervision
- Individual Research Methods BSc (Hons) Thesis supervision
- PhD Supervision
Current PhD students supervised
I currently supervise the following PhD students:
- Raymond Bobrownicki – ‘Utilising sources of information to assist in the learning and execution of gross motor skill.’
Research summary
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
-
An explicit look at implicit learning: An interrogative review for sport coaching research and practice
In:
Sports Coaching Review
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/21640629.2023.2179300
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (E-pub ahead of print) -
Constraints of the constraints-led approach in American football and comments on Yearby et al. (2022)
In:
Sports Coaching Review
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/21640629.2022.2158579
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Comment/debate (E-pub ahead of print) -
Sharpening the tip of the spear; Tailoring performance psychology for Special Operation Forces
(9 pages)
In:
Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 13, pp. 1-9
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1068896
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Reading the MAP: A pracademic perspective on the current state of play of the multi-action plan model with regard to transitions between mental states
(14 pages)
In:
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 19, pp. 1
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192315520
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
The prevalence of symptoms of common mental disorders among professional golfers
(1 page)
In:
International Journal of Golf Science, pp. 1-14
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Unloading the dice: Selection and design of comparison and control groups in controlled trials to enhance translational impact within motor learning and control research
In:
International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, vol. 20, pp. 1330-1344
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1612197X.2021.1956567
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Reflections on reflection: Clarifying and promoting use in experienced coaches
(13 pages)
In:
Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 13, pp. 1-13
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.867720
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Team coordination and decision-making
(14 pages)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003179733-9
Research output: › Chapter (Published) -
The acute effects of analogy and explicit instruction on movement and performance
(9 pages)
In:
Psychology of Sport and Exercise, vol. 44, pp. 17-25
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2019.04.016
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Redressing the balance: Commentary on “Examining motor learning in older adults using analogy instruction” by Tse, Wong, and Masters (2017)
In:
Psychology of Sport and Exercise, vol. 38, pp. 211-214
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2018.05.014
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published)