Overview
The research paper provides students with an opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of a topic relevant to team cohesion in sport. Students are required to choose one topic and examine the relationship of the chosen topic to group cohesion in sport.
Students are required to choose one topic from the list provided below (the use of any other topic must be approved by the course instructor) related to team cohesion in sport.
List of Topics
– Athlete (peer) leadership
– Coach-athlete relationship
– Coach leadership behaviour
– Collective (team) efficacy
– Communication
– Competitive state anxiety
– Cultural or ethnic diversity
– Effort
– Goal setting
– Group (team) norms
– Hazing
– Informal roles
– Imagery
– Perfectionism
– Role commitment
-Moral behaviour
-Motivational climate
– Self-determined motivation
-Social Identity
-Socialization tactics (processes)
-Team building
Teamwork
– Sub-groups (cliques)
-Transformational coach leadership
Expectations
After choosing a topic, the next step is to locate and review at least four academic sources of information (i.e., peer-reviewed journal articles or academic books published since 2010 related to the field of Sport/Exercise Psychology). Sources should also relate directly to the chosen topic and team cohesion in sport settings. Earlier sources may be used in addition to the required four sources of current literature, if they are still cited in more recent work in the field (for instance, the Conceptual Model of Group Cohesion, developed by Carron and colleagues in 1985, is still accepted today. Given that this is the original source of information, the article by Carron et al. (1985) should be cited but would not ‘count’ as one of the four required academic sources of information). Please note that the course textbook or e-book may be used in addition to the four required academic sources of information and should not be relied upon to develop the content of the paper. Theses, dissertations, and websites are not viewed as acceptable sources of information for the research paper.
Compose a research paper 5 pages in length (the title page and reference list are in addition to this requirement) that uses information from academic sources to provide a comprehensive review of team cohesion and the chosen topic. Papers should adhere to APA formatting (double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font, 1″ margins). The focus of the paper should be on team cohesion and how it is related to the chosen topic.
Research papers should include:
a comprehensive introduction to team cohesion and the chosen concept in sport.
a detailed review of definitions/concepts/models/theories related to team cohesion and the chosen concept.
a thesis statement that clearly communicates the direction of the relationship between the chosen concept and team cohesion in sport.
a detailed overview of empirical research findings that describe the relationship between the chosen topic and team cohesion.
an in-depth explanation of the reasons for the relationship between the chosen concept and team cohesion in sport.
suggestions for future research on the relationship between the chosen concept and team cohesion in sport Note that suggestions for future research should be based on researchers’ recommendations and not personal opinion.
a review of implications of the research to ‘real world’ sport settings (i.e., usefulness of information presented in the academic literature to coaches, athletes, or parents). Note that implications of research findings should be supported by evidence presented in the literature and not personal opinion.
a concluding paragraph that reviews all major points introduced in the body of the paper to provide a summary of the relationship between team cohesion and the chosen concept in sport.
APA format (7th edition) must be used to cite all sources of information in-text and to develop a reference list. Students should use their own words to summarize research findings rather than using direct quotations (omitting or replacing a few words is not paraphrasing). Paraphrasing demonstrates a higher level of writing and understanding.
The following rubric will guide you on how your research paper will be evaluated.
Grading Criteria
Level 4
3 points
Level 3
2 points
Level 2
1 point
Level 1
0 points
Introduction
The reader is provided with a comprehensive understanding of cohesion, its components, the chosen concept, and the importance of these concepts in sport.
The reader is provided with a general understanding of cohesion and the chosen concept; however, more specific background information is needed.
The reader requires additional background information on cohesion and the chosen topic to fully understand these concepts and their importance to sport.
Cohesion and the chosen concept are not defined. Additional background information is needed to provide the reader with an understanding of these concepts and their importance to sport.
Thesis Statement
A thesis statement is included in the introduction and clearly communicates the direction of the relationship between the chosen concept and cohesion in sport.
A thesis statement is included in the introduction and identifies a relationship between the chosen concept and cohesion in sport but should be expanded to specify the direction of the relationship.
The thesis statement identifies a relationship between the chosen concept and cohesion in sport but should be moved to the introduction and specify the direction of the relationship.
A thesis statement is not included in the paper.
Research Evidence of Relationship
At least four sources from the sport psychology literature are cited to provide a detailed and specific overview of research evidence that describes the relationship between the chosen concept and cohesion in sport.
At least four sources from the sport psychology literature are cited to provide research evidence relevant to the relationship between the chosen concept and cohesion in sport but could be elaborated upon.
Less than four sources from the sport psychology literature are cited and little research evidence is introduced to describe the relationship between cohesion and the chosen concept in sport.
Relevant research evidence from the sport psychology literature is not cited to describe the relationship between cohesion and the chosen concept in sport.
Academic Explanation of Relationship
Multiple academic sources are used to provide an in-depth explanation of the reasons for the relationship between the chosen concept and cohesion in sport.
Academic sources are used to provide a brief explanation of the reasons for the relationship between the chosen concept and cohesion in sport and could be elaborated upon.
Reasons for the relationship between the chosen concept and cohesion in sport are not clear and require additional support from academic sources.
Reasons for the relationship between the chosen concept and cohesion are not addressed.
Relevance of Research Findings on Relationship
Practical implications of the study findings for the ‘real world’ and future directions for research are clearly described and based on the literature.
Additional information from the literature is needed to fully describe the practical implications of study findings for the ‘real world’ or future directions for research.
Practical implications of the study findings for the ‘real world’ and future directions for research are addressed but should be based on the academic literature.
Both practical implications of study findings for the ‘real world’ and future directions for research are not addressed.
Conclusion
The concluding paragraph reviews all major points introduced in the body of the paper to provide a summary of the relationship between cohesion and the chosen concept in sport.
The concluding paragraph is brief and should be extended to review all major points introduced in the body of the paper.
The concluding paragraph summarizes the relationship between the chosen concept and cohesion in sport but introduces new information that should be discussed in the body of the paper.
A concluding paragraph is needed.
Organization
The paper is clearly organized and transitions are used to present a logical, cohesive overview of the chosen topic and cohesion in sport.
Points raised are presented in logical order to present a cohesive overview of the chosen concept and cohesion in sport.
The order of some points should be revised to present a logical overview of the chosen topic and cohesion in sport.
The paper is unorganized and requires substantial revision to present a logical overview of the chosen topic and cohesion in sport.
Writing
Writing is appropriate for an academic audience, paraphrasing information from sources, with few (if any) spelling and/or grammatical errors.
Writing is appropriate for an academic audience, mostly paraphrasing information from sources, with some minor spelling and/or grammatical errors.
Writing is appropriate for an academic audience but relies on many direct quotations and/or includes some major spelling and/or grammatical errors.
Writing is informal and/or requires substantial revisions to correct many major spelling and grammatical errors.
Sources of Information
Four (or more) peer-reviewed journal articles or academic books (published since 2010) relevant to the chosen concept and cohesion in sport are cited.
At least four peer-reviewed journal articles or academic books relevant to the chosen concept and cohesion in sport are cited but some are not published since 2010.
Less than four peer-reviewed journal articles or academic books relevant to the chosen concept and cohesion in sport are cited.
No academic sources of information are cited.
APA Formatting
In-text citations and references in APA format with few (if any) minor errors.
In-text citations and/or reference list in APA format but contain some major errors.
In-text citations and/or reference list are provided but not in APA format.
No in-text citations or reference list are provided.
Total 30 points
Overview
The research paper provides students with an opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of a topic relevant to team cohesion in sport. Students are required to choose one topic and examine the relationship of the chosen topic to group cohesion in sport.
Students are required to choose one topic from the list provided below (the use of any other topic must be approved by the course instructor) related to team cohesion in sport.
List of Topics
Athlete (peer) leadership Coach-athlete relationship Coach leadership behaviour
Collective (team) efficacy Communication Competitive state anxiety
Cultural or ethnic diversity Effort Goal setting
Group (team) norms Hazing Informal roles
Imagery Perfectionism Role commitment
Moral behaviour Motivational climate Self-determined motivation
Social Identity Socialization tactics (processes) Team building
Teamwork Sub-groups (cliques) Transformational coach leadership
Expectations
After choosing a topic, the next step is to locate and review at least four academic sources of information (i.e., peer-reviewed journal articles or academic books published since 2010 related to the field of Sport/Exercise Psychology). Sources should also relate directly to the chosen topic and team cohesion in sport settings. Earlier sources may be used in addition to the required four sources of current literature, if they are still cited in more recent work in the field (for instance, the Conceptual Model of Group Cohesion, developed by Carron and colleagues in 1985, is still accepted today. Given that this is the original source of information, the article by Carron et al. (1985) should be cited but would not ‘count’ as one of the four required academic sources of information). Please note that the course textbook or e-book may be used in addition to the four required academic sources of information and should not be relied upon to develop the content of the paper. Theses, dissertations, and websites are not viewed as acceptable sources of information for the research paper.
Compose a research paper 5 pages in length (the title page and reference list are in addition to this requirement) that uses information from academic sources to provide a comprehensive review of team cohesion and the chosen topic. Papers should adhere to APA formatting (double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font, 1″ margins). The focus of the paper should be on team cohesion and how it is related to the chosen topic.
Research papers should include:
-a comprehensive introduction to team cohesion and the chosen concept in sport.
-a detailed review of definitions/concepts/models/theories related to team cohesion and the chosen concept.
-a thesis statement that clearly communicates the direction of the relationship between the chosen concept and team cohesion in sport.
-a detailed overview of empirical research findings that describe the relationship between the chosen topic and team cohesion.
-an in-depth explanation of the reasons for the relationship between the chosen concept and team cohesion in sport.
-suggestions for future research on the relationship between the chosen concept and team cohesion in sport Note that suggestions for future research should be based on researchers’ recommendations and not personal opinion.
– a review of implications of the research to ‘real world’ sport settings (i.e., usefulness of information presented in the academic literature to coaches, athletes, or parents). Note that implications of research findings should be supported by evidence presented in the literature and not personal opinion.
a concluding paragraph that reviews all major points introduced in the body of the paper to provide a summary of the relationship between team cohesion and the chosen concept in sport.
APA format (7th edition) must be used to cite all sources of information in-text and to develop a reference list. Students should use their own words to summarize research findings rather than using direct quotations (omitting or replacing a few words is not paraphrasing). Paraphrasing demonstrates a higher level of writing and understanding.