SP0753 - Contemporary Issues in Strength and Conditioning

The module team will provide support in the initial stages of asking and answering questions. The tutor will provide initial readings and other materials (podcasts, blogs, industry contacts, online lecture materials) to aid the initial attempts at engaging with the student-selected question(s)/topic(s) under study. Classroom based sessions, incorporating small-group discussions in a “journal club” style environment will be utilized to engage with the evidence-base underpinning the topics, and resolve any difficulties in understanding. The tutor will also provide further reading and additional questioning to help guide towards resolution of the problem under study. A bespoke online learning space will be set up for sharing of resources and discussion of material outside of formal teaching time. Formative feedback will be provided on an ongoing basis in classroom and practical sessions by module tutors. Dedicated assessment support sessions will be scheduled to prepare you for the assessment tasks.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:

At the end of the module successful students should be able to:
Knowledge & Understanding:

1. Demonstrate an advanced knowledge and critical understanding of contemporary issues in strength and conditioning practice and research
2. Critically apply and evaluate scientific knowledge, and demonstrate a critical awareness of the limitations of the scientific process


Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
3. Apply the skills of a scientist in a strength and conditioning context to effectively gather, analyse, interpret, and present data

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
4. Demonstrate a critical, questioning and independent approach to your own practice

You will be assessed through one piece of work as follows:

Laboratory report (100% weighting, 3000 words, MLO 1, 2, 3, 4):

You will work in small groups to conduct a small-scale research project to answer an original research question in a contemporary topic in strength and conditioning. Data collection will be performed in groups whereas the report will be an individual submission. The assessment will engage you as participants in the research process, providing opportunity to learn, practice and refine your research skills in a contemporary topic chosen by you. This work will serve as excellent preparation for your dissertation project and will build on the skills learned in previous modules, particularly Research Methods.

Formative assessment will be on-going throughout the module. The problem-based, research-process approach encourages active learning and engagement with the topics under study. The lecturers role is one of facilitator, with feedback given regularly on the success or otherwise of your interaction with the discipline under study, both on an individual and group basis. Written summative feedback will be provided. Both generic (posted to the e-learning portal) and individual summative feedback will be provided on the assessment component.

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On “Contemporary Issues in strength and conditioning” you will study a range of contemporary topics in strength and conditioning and design and conduct a research project of your own choice to answer real-world questions faced by practitioners, with the aim to develop your critical awareness of evaluating evidence and applying this to practice, and increase your employability as a masters graduate in strength and conditioning.