Overview
This unit will provide you with an understanding of behavioural theories that form the foundation of exercise and sport psychology. You will also learn about the role of exercise, physical activity, and sport in mental health and wellbeing. Upon completion of this unit you will be able to describe factors that influence exercise adherence, goal setting, and participation in physical activity. Further, you will develop introductory counselling and communication skills which will enable you to deliver effective behaviour modification strategies to individuals or groups in exercise or sport settings.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Pre-requisite: ESSC11001 Physical Activity, Fitness, and Health
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2026
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Student feedback
Education students in this unit are not fully aware that this unit is tailored towards exercise and sport science students and aligned to external accreditation requirements.
It is recommended that the unit coordinator make it clearer at the start of term that the class is designed to meet Exercise and Sport Science Australia accreditation requirements which are focused on exercise science and are not specifically tailored for education.
Feedback from Self-reflection
Some students did not fully understand the requirement to submit their video for Portfolio Assessment 2.
It is recommended that the unit coordinator emphasise the importance of submitting the video portion of the portfolio assessment.
Feedback from Student feedback
The current structure of the unit is well-designed and works to deliver the required content in a logical order.
It is recommended that the unit coordinator undertakes minor updates to the unit for each new offering but attempt to maintain the current structure of the unit.
- Apply behavioural theories that relate to exercise and sport psychology.
- Describe and implement effective goal setting to increase exercise adherence.
- Demonstrate counselling and communication skills expected of an exercise and sport science professional.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 30% | |||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 40% | |||
| 3 - Portfolio - 30% | |||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||
| 5 - Team Work | |||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||
| 10 - First Nations Knowledges | |||
| 11 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Microsoft Word
- Adobe Acrobat Reader (or similar) software for viewing PDF documents
- Skype Application
- Video and Audio recording equipment.
- File compression software
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
v.dalbo@cqu.edu.au
Week 1
Begin Date: 09 Mar 2026Module/Topic
1. Unit Introduction
2. Understanding Who You Are
Chapter
Excerpt Urban’s Way – Page 52
One hundred years young: Frank Booth’s vision for a healthier America
Introduction – Influence of personality traits on behaviours
After completing the Myers-Briggs Personality Inventory read about your results
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 2
Begin Date: 16 Mar 2026Module/Topic
1. Factors That Influence Exercise Participation
2. Motivation
Chapter
Trost et al. (2003). Correlates of adults’ participation in physical activity: review and update. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise.
Bartlett et al. (2011). High-intensity interval running is perceived to be more enjoyable than moderate-intensity continuous exercise: Implications for exercise adherence. Journal of Sports Sciences.
Ekkekakis and Lind (2006). Exercise does not feel the same when you are overweight: the impact of self-selected and imposed intensity on affect and exertion. International Journal of Obesity.
Exercise Your Way To Good Mental Health
PAR-Q & You Form
NBC Under Pressure to Cancel ‘The Biggest Loser’
After ‘The Biggest Loser,’ Their Bodies Fought to Regain Weight
A new show features ‘Biggest Loser winners who regained weight – and reveals a deeper truth about weight loss
What we know about Jordan McNair’s death and Maryland football’s role in it
Ex-Oregon player reportedly suing former coach Willie Taggart, NCAA for $11.5 million
BREQ-3
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 3
Begin Date: 23 Mar 2026Module/Topic
1. Influencing Behavior
2. Health Belief Model, Theory Of Planned Behaviour, And Self-Determination Theory
Chapter
Dalbo et al. (2017). Lack of reality: Positive self-perceptions of health in the presence of disease. Sports.
Skinner – Operant Conditioning
Bandura – Social Cognitive Theory
Razon and Sachs (2018). Applied Exercise Psychology: The Challenging Journey From Motivation To Adherence. Chapter 5.
Bonus reading - you are not required to read this book
Influences by Robert Cialdini
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 4
Begin Date: 30 Mar 2026Module/Topic
1. Ecological Perspective
2. Transtheoretical Model Of Behaviour Change
Chapter
The Transtheoretical Model of Behaviour Change
Stages of Change Questionnaire – Physical Activity
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 5
Begin Date: 06 Apr 2026Module/Topic
1. Effective Counselling (Part 1)
2. Effective Counselling (Part 2)
Chapter
‘I think about his smile, his laugh’: Roger Clemens reflects on Mel Stottlemyre
Readiness to Change
Decisional Balance
The Spirit of Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing Open Questions, Affirmation, Reflective Listening, and Summary Reflections (OARS)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 6
Begin Date: 13 Apr 2026Module/Topic
1. Goal Setting
2. Arousal Regulation
Chapter
SMART goals information sheet
The Sport Anxiety Scale
Events and Submissions/Topic
Portfolio Part 1: Introductory Counselling Session Due: Week 6 Friday (17 Apr 2026) 5:00 pm AEST
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 20 Apr 2026Module/Topic
No Lectures
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 7
Begin Date: 27 Apr 2026Module/Topic
1. Addressing Adherence And Compliance Issues In Exercise Prescription
2. Identifying Clients In Need Of Additional Strategies For Behaviour Modification
Chapter
Exercise Adherence Rating Scale (EARS)
Campbell et al. (2001). Why don’t patients do their exercise? Understanding non-compliance with physiotherapy in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
Exercise is an all-natural treatment to fight depression
The mental health benefits of exercise
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 8
Begin Date: 04 May 2026Module/Topic
No Lectures
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 9
Begin Date: 11 May 2026Module/Topic
No Lectures
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 10
Begin Date: 18 May 2026Module/Topic
No Lectures
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 11
Begin Date: 25 May 2026Module/Topic
No Lectures
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Portfolio Part 2: Counselling Session Due: Week 11 Friday (29 May 2026) 5:00 pm AEST
Week 12
Begin Date: 01 Jun 2026Module/Topic
No Lectures
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Exam Week
Begin Date: 08 Jun 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation/Exam Week
Begin Date: 15 Jun 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Written Assessment
You will be asked a series of psychology questions that address ESSA requirements covered in unit readings and lecture content through Weeks 1 to 4, inclusive. The assessment questions are designed to evaluate your ability to apply behavioural theories and demonstrate counselling and communication skills to help people become and/or remain engaged in exercise. The assignment will consist of questions requiring written answers. Further information about the assessment will be available on Moodle.
Plagiarism: Please be advised the assessment submission will be checked for plagiarism. You are advised to familiarise yourself with CQUniversity’s Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. Any assessments suspected of plagiarism (or other type of academic misconduct) will be dealt with in accordance to the relevant polices noted in the unit profile.
Word Count: The word count is specific to each question. Words exceeding the word count will not be read.
References: References are not required as questions should be answered using unit content.
Level of GenAI use allowed: Level 1: No AI. This assessment item must be completed entirely without Al assistance, ensuring that students rely solely on their existing knowledge, understanding, and skills.
Extensions: Extensions will only be granted in accordance with CQUniversity policy. Extensions must be submitted through the Moodle site.
Late Submissions: Any assessments submitted late will incur penalties in accordance with CQUniversity policy.
File Submission: Upload your file (answers) in a Word document (.doc or .docx). An acceptable file that is readable must be submitted. If an unacceptable/corrupt file is submitted your assessment will be considered late until an acceptable file is submitted. Late penalties will be incurred in accordance with CQUniversity policy.
Week 5 Friday (10 Apr 2026) 5:00 pm AEST
Any assessments received after 5:00 PM AEST will be marked as late.
Week 7 Friday (1 May 2026)
Total points for each question will be specified in the assessment instructions available on Moodle. Points will be awarded on your ability to apply behavioural theories and demonstrate counselling and communications skills.
- Apply behavioural theories that relate to exercise and sport psychology.
- Demonstrate counselling and communication skills expected of an exercise and sport science professional.
2 Written Assessment
You will be asked a series of psychology questions that address ESSA requirements covered in unit readings and lecture content through Weeks 1 to 7, inclusive. The assessment questions are designed to evaluate your ability to implement an effective goal setting strategy and apply psychological principles to help people become and/or remain engaged in exercise. The assignment will consist of questions requiring written answers. Further information about the assessment will be available on Moodle.
Plagiarism: Please be advised the assessment submission will be checked for plagiarism. You are advised to familiarise yourself with CQUniversity’s Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. Any assessments suspected of plagiarism (or other type of academic misconduct) will be dealt with in accordance to the relevant polices noted in the unit profile.
Word Count: The word count is specific to each question. Words exceeding the word count will not be read.
References: References are not required as questions should be answered using unit content.
Level of GenAI use allowed: Level 1: No AI. This assessment item must be completed entirely without Al assistance, ensuring that students rely solely on their existing knowledge, understanding, and skills.
Extensions: Extensions will only be granted in accordance with CQUniversity policy. Extensions must be submitted through the Moodle site.
Late Submissions: Any assessments submitted late will incur penalties in accordance with CQUniversity policy.
File Submission: Upload your file (answers) in a Word document (.doc or .docx). An acceptable file that is readable must be submitted. If an unacceptable/corrupt file is submitted your assessment will be considered late until an acceptable file is submitted. Late penalties will be incurred in accordance with CQUniversity policy.
Week 9 Friday (15 May 2026) 5:00 pm AEST
Any assessments received after 5:00 PM AEST will be marked as late.
Week 11 Friday (29 May 2026)
Total points for each question will be specified in the assessment instructions available on Moodle. Points will be awarded on your ability to implement an effective goal setting strategy and your ability to apply psychological principles to help people become and/or remain engaged with exercise.
- Apply behavioural theories that relate to exercise and sport psychology.
- Describe and implement effective goal setting to increase exercise adherence.
3 Portfolio
You will be introduced to foundational counselling techniques which you will be expected to apply in real-world settings. The portfolio is your opportunity to apply the knowledge you have learned in this unit in regard to counselling potential clients. The portfolio will consist of two parts: an introductory counselling video and a live counselling session.
Portfolio Part 1: Introductory Counselling Session
You will create a mock scenario in which you will act as the practitioner to provide counselling advice to a client who wishes to become more active. The client can be a friend, family member, or classmate. In the counselling session you must demonstrate the ability to apply the principles of motivational interviewing. You will create a video recording of the counselling session which should range between 5-8 minutes. Your video submission should not be edited prior to submission (e.g., cutting length or reshooting parts of the session) and should not be scripted. Following the counselling session, you will watch your session and using the self-reflection questions provided in your assessment, reflect on which aspects of the counselling session went well and which aspects of the counselling session could have been performed better. Further information about the assessment will be available on Moodle.
You must submit two (2) components for this part of the Portfolio assessment:
1) Video file (.wmv, .mp4, or .mov) of your counselling session. If an unacceptable/corrupt file is submitted your assessment will be considered late until an acceptable file is submitted. Late penalties will be incurred in accordance with CQUniversity policy. Important: You can only submit files 100 MB or less to Moodle.
2) Word file (.doc or .docx) containing your self-reflection. If an unacceptable/corrupt file is submitted your assessment will be considered late until an acceptable file is submitted. Late penalties will be incurred in accordance with CQUniversity policy.
Important: You must submit a video file of your counselling session and a Word file containing your self-reflection to earn points on this assessment.
Due date: Week 6 Friday (17 Apr 2026) 5:00 PM AEST
Return date: Week 8 Friday (8 May 2026) 5:00 PM AEST
* Important: Do not wait until the last minute to submit your assessment. Each year a few students experience difficulty with uploading their video to Moodle, typically due to their file size being too large for Moodle to accept. If you are experiencing issues with submitting your assessment contact IT for help.
Portfolio Part 2: Counselling Session
You will find a client to counsel. The client cannot be a student in this class and cannot be the same person you counselled in Portfolio Assessment Part 1. The client must be in the pre-contemplation or contemplation stage of the transtheoretical model of behavior change. The counselling session should be between 15-20 minutes in length and you must video record the session with your client. The goal of the counselling session is to help the client become physically active. Your video submission should not be edited prior to submission (e.g., cutting length or reshooting parts of the session). Following the counselling session you will watch your counselling session and reflect on what aspects of the counselling session could have been improved and what aspects of the counselling session went well. To accomplish this task you will grade yourself on the key aspects of motivational interviewing and answer a series of questions that require you to reflect on your counselling session. Further information about the assessment will be available on Moodle.
You must submit two (2) components for this part of the Portfolio assessment:
1) Video file (.wmv.mp4, or .mov) of your counselling session. If an unacceptable/corrupt file is submitted your assessment will be considered late until an acceptable file is submitted. Late penalties will be incurred in accordance with CQUniversity policy. Important: You can only submit files 100 MB or less to Moodle.
2) Word file (.doc or .docx) containing your self-reflection. If an unacceptable/corrupt file is submitted your assessment will be considered late until an acceptable file is submitted. Late penalties will be incurred in accordance with CQUniversity policy.
Important: You must submit a video file of your counselling session and a Word file containing your self-reflection to earn points on this assessment.
Due date: Week 11 Friday (29 May 2026) 5:00 PM AEST
Return date: Exam Week Friday (12 June 2026) 5:00 PM AEST
* Important: Do not wait until the last minute to submit your assessment. Each year a few students experience difficulty with uploading their video to Moodle, typically due to their file size being too large for Moodle to accept. If you are experiencing issues with submitting your assessment contact IT for help.
Plagiarism: Please be advised the assessment submission will be checked for plagiarism. You are advised to familiarise yourself with CQUniversity’s Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. Any assessments suspected of plagiarism (or other type of academic misconduct) will be dealt with in accordance to the relevant polices noted in the unit profile.
Word Count: The word count is specific to each question. Words exceeding the word count will not be read.
References: References are not required as questions should be answered using unit content.
Level of GenAI use allowed: Level 1: No AI. This assessment item must be completed entirely without Al assistance, ensuring that students rely solely on their existing knowledge, understanding, and skills.
Extensions: Extensions will only be granted in accordance with CQUniversity policy. Extensions must be submitted through the Moodle site.
Late Submissions: Any assessments submitted late will incur penalties in accordance with CQUniversity policy.
File Submission: An acceptable video file that is viewable must be submitted along with an acceptable Word document that is readable to earn points for each component of the portfolio assessment. If an unacceptable/corrupt file is submitted your assessment will be considered late until an acceptable file is submitted. Late penalties will be incurred in accordance with CQUniversity policy.
Portfolio Part 1: Introductory Counselling Session due 5:00 PM (AEST) Friday Week 6; Portfolio Part 2: Counselling Session due 5:00 PM (AEST) Friday Week 11.
Each component of the portfolio will be returned with feedback two weeks following the due date.
Portfolio Part 1: Introductory Counselling Session (30% of portfolio grade)
The introductory counselling session is composed of two parts: a counselling session and a written component. Your counselling video will be assessed on your ability to apply the principles of motivational interviewing. Your written component will be assessed on your ability to answer the questions provided. You must submit a video file of your counselling session and a Word file containing your self-reflection to earn points on this assessment.
Portfolio Part 2: Counselling Session (70% of portfolio grade)
The counselling session is composed of two parts: a counselling session and a written component. Your counselling video will be assessed on your ability to apply the principles of motivational interviewing. Your written component will be assessed on your ability to answer the questions provided. You must submit a video file of your counselling session and a Word file containing your self-reflection to earn points on this assessment.
A detailed marking rubric will be available on Moodle for each part of the portfolio.
- Describe and implement effective goal setting to increase exercise adherence.
- Demonstrate counselling and communication skills expected of an exercise and sport science professional.
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
