Dr Clare Rhoden

Contact Details

Dr Clare Rhoden joined the University of Worcester in 1995, then the Worcester College of Higher Education, with a strong background in multidimensional competitive anxiety, stress management and applied performance psychology and her PhD research applied these areas to the equestrian sport of eventing. With an enthusiasm for understanding what's going on and an interest in a range of sports including team, pairs and individual sports, Clare's research continued to analyse the emotional element of performance along with associated aspects of goal achievement, goal disengagement and adaptive self-regulation. Focusing on the sport of badminton Clare explored the emotions and self-efficacy amongst mixed-sex and same-sex doubles sharing findings with the Worcester Badminton Performance Centre. Clare's current research is located in the context of exercise and physical activity in later life with ongoing projects focused on the emotions in exercising and non-exercising older adults alongside the role of self-efficacy, age stereotypes and awareness of ageing in shaping physical activity engagement. Clare engages with the local community through her contributions to the University of Worcester’s Active Ageing Week hosted in collaboration with the International Council on Active Ageing.

Clare is a Higher Education Academy Teaching Fellow and a Chartered Psychologist within the British Psychological Society Division of Academics, Researchers and Teachers. Clare is also a member of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences.

Clare has competed at club level in a range of sports including equestrian eventing, dressage, show-jumping, hockey, triathlon and she loves skiing.

Qualifications:

Developing Leaders Programme, University of Worcester (2015)
Certificate in Leadership and Management, University of Worcester (2014)
PhD Sport Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University (1996)
BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science, Liverpool Polytechnic (1991)

Fellow of Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
Chartered Psychologist - British Psychological Society - CPsychol AFBPsS

Teaching & Research

Teaching expertise:

Clare’s teaching includes sport and exercise psychology and research methods, including: psycho-social aspects associated with ageing, emotion, mood and affect, psychological responses to injury and injury rehabilitation and psychological processes within behaviour change.

Research:

Clare’s current research focuses on ageing, awareness of ageing, identity, self-efficacy, ageing stereotypes and how this impacts upon physical activity engagement and intention for physical activity. Psycho-social processes influence people’s engagement in physical activity as they age and Clare’s research aims to identify which factors are most influential and modifiable.

Clare is a member of the research group Gender, Identity and the Body at the University of Worcester.

Funded research projects:

Rhoden, C.L. and Hunt, B. Examining students perceptions and future use of feedback and grades Student as Academic Partner, University of Worcester.

Rhoden, C.L., West, J. and Steward, C. Affect, motivation and performance relationships in same-sex and mixed-sex athlete dyads. Vacation Research Assistantship Scheme, University of Worcester.

Postgraduate research supervision:

Clare is currently supervising a PhD student, Deborah Tomkinson, in the area of “Identity transformations: Exploring single, older women’s adjustments to physical ageing through participation in physical activity”.

PhD supervision completions:

Dr Karen Bill - An emotional rollercoaster: An exploration into business start-ups amongst graduates.

Dr Julia West - Testing the Hierarchical module of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation at the situational level in sport and exercise.

Professional Bodies

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)

British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES)

British Psychological Society (BPS) Chartered status within the Division of Academics, Researchers and Teachers.

Publications

West, J., Rhoden, C., Robinson, P., Castle, P.C. and St Clair Gibson, A. (2016) How motivated are you? Exploring the differences between motivational profiles and personality traits. Sport & Exercise Psychology Review. 12 (1), 28-42.

Rhoden, C., West, J., Renfree, A., Corbett, M. and St Clair Gibson, A. (2015) Adaptive Self-regulation in Cycle Time Trials: Goal Pursuit, Goal Disengagement and the Affective Experience. Journal of Science and Cycling, 4 (3). pp. 44-52. ISSN Online: 2254-7053
http://eprints.worc.ac.uk/4106/

Gerrett, N., Thomas, G., Lambeth-Mansell, A. and Rhoden, C. (2015) Interdisciplinary Team Supporting Squash Players to Break the Guinness World Record. Sport and Exercise Scientist, 46. pp. 10-11. ISSN 1754-3444
http://eprints.worc.ac.uk/4054/

Rhoden, C.L., West, J., Renfree, A., Corbett, M. and St Clair Gibson, A. (2014) Micro-oscillations in positive and negative affect during competitive laboratory cycle time trials – a preliminary study. South African Journal of Sports Medicine, 26(1), 20-25. DOI:10.7196/SAJSM.496

Rhoden, C.L., West, J. and Peters, D.M. (2013) Male positive affect elucidates mixed-doubles badminton tournament rank. In: Peters, D.M. and O’Donoghue, P. (eds) Performance Analysis of Sport IX. Abingdon, Routledge, pp.162-167.

Renfree, A., West , J., Corbett, M., Rhoden, C. and St Clair Gibson, A. (2012) Complex interplay between the determinants of pacing and performance during 20km cycle time trials. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance. 7 (2), 121-129.

Bill, K. and Rhoden, C. (2011) Business Support in Sport – Strategy or Serendipity? Journal of Sport Business and Enterprise Development, 18(4), 821-832.

Rhoden, C. and West, J. (2010) Affect in sporting activities: a preliminary validation of the Worcester Affect Scale. Sport Science Review, 19(5-6), 71-92.

Renfree, A., West, J., Corbett, M., and Rhoden, C. (2009) Individualised RPE responses during a self-paced cycle time trial, Sports Science Review, 1(1), 7-26

Castle, P.C., Rhoden, C., West, J., Incledon, V. and Mycock, D. (2007) Foundations of Sport (Psycho-Social) Compilation Text: McGraw-Hill
ISBN: 0-390-92247-1

Medcalf, R., Marshall, J. and Rhoden, C. (2006) Exploring the relationship between physical education and enhancing behaviour in pupils with emotional behavioural difficulties. Support for Learning, 21 (4), 169-174

Anderson, A. and Rhoden, C. (1998) The sport psychologist as a member of the sport science team. In Steinberg, H., Cockerill, I. and Dewey, A. (ed) What Sport Psychologists Do, Leicester, The British Psychological Society, pp. 28-33

Potter, C. L. and Anderson, A.G. (1998) Using performance profiles with a regional junior table tennis squad. In Lees, A., Maynard, I., Hughes, M. and Reilly, T. (ed) Science and Racket Sports II London, EandFN Spon, pp. 142-147

Potter, C.L. (1998). Communication, Annual Conference of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES). The performance profile as a tool for monitoring change in psychological factors of horse trials riding: a case study. Journal of Sports Sciences, 16 (1), 23-24

Potter, C. (1996). Chapter 7; Rider and Horse Psychology. In Diploma in Professional Studies (Coaching Studies), Leeds, England: National Coaching Foundation

Communications:

Rhoden, C.L. (2019) Exploring the process of physical activity engagement in older adults. Presentation and discussion with Worcester U3A ‘Thinking Allowed’ Group, Friday 1^st March, 2019, Waitrose Community Room, Waitrose, London Road, Worcester.

Rhoden, C. L. (2018) Developing Focus. Workshop to the UW Badminton Performance Centre, Monday 6^th August, 2018, The Joel Richards Conference Suite, University Arena, University of Worcester.

Rhoden, C.L. and Joyce, J.P. (2018) Towards Healthy Ageing: Exploring the psychological, physical and cognitive dimensions of ageing and physical activity. Public Talk University of Worcester, Thursday 21^st June, 2018 1.00-2.00pm, The Hive, Worcester.

Rhoden, C. L. (2018) Conquering Fear. Workshop to the UW Badminton Performance Centre, Tuesday 11^th October, 2018, The Joel Richards Conference Suite, University Arena, University of Worcester.

Rhoden, C.L. (2016) “Age is no barrier. It’s a limitation you put on your mind” Investigating psychological factors associated with physical activity in the third age. Public Lecture given within the British Psychological Society Psychologist in the Pub Series, Worcester Branch. 28th September, 2016, The Green Worcester, England.

Rhoden, C.L. and Hunt, B. (2015) Examining students’ perceptions and future use of feedback and grades. Oral presentation to the University of Worcester Learning and Teaching Conference, 18th June, 2015, University of Worcester, England.
http://eprints.worc.ac.uk/4121/

Rhoden, C.L., West, J. and Peters, D.M. (2012) Male positive affect explains mixed-doubles badminton tournament rank. Oral Presentation to the 9th World Congress of Performance Analysis and Sport, July 25-28th, 2012, University of Worcester, England.

Rhoden, C.L. and West, J. (2011) Affect and performance in a badminton tournament: an analysis of changes within and between matches. Poster presentation to the 16th Annual Congress of the European College of Sports Sciences, 6-9th July, Liverpool, UK.

Rhoden, C.L., West, J., Renfree, A., Corbett, M. and St Clair Gibson, A. (2010) Cup half empty? Positivity, negativity and goal expectations in sports performance: a pre- and within exercise analysis Oral presentation at the International Journal of Arts and Sciences Annual Conference, 30th May-3rd June, 2010, Austria.

Rhoden, C.L. and Breeze, N. (2009). Masters courses in the Institute of Sport and Exercise Science: A survey of student perceptions. Oral presentation at the 8th Learning and Teaching Conference, 18th June, 2009, University of Worcester, Worcester, England.

Bill, K. and Rhoden, C. (2007). Small Business Support: Strategy or Serendipity? An oral presentation to 30th Institute for Small Business & Entrepreneurship conference, 7-9th Nov, 2007, Glasgow.

West, J., Castle, P., Rhoden, C., Boot-Handford, N. and Cooprider, J. (2007). Conquering the charity stripe – integrating technological advances and imagery with the basketball free-throw. Poster communication at the Annual Conference of the European College of Sports Sciences, July 2007, Finland.

Potter, C.L. (1997). The performance profile as a tool for monitoring change in psychological factors of horse trials riding: a case study. Poster presentation to The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Annual Conference, September, 1997, York, England.

Sanderson, F., Potter, C. and Murphy, P. (1995). Investigation into intensity and direction dimensions of competitive state anxiety and performance in Novice Horse Trials riders. Poster communication at the Annual Conference of the British Psychological Society, pp. 21, 1-4 April, 1995, University of Warwick.

Potter, C.L., Sanderson, F.H. and Murphy, P. (1994). Analysis of multidimensional competitive state anxiety in horse trials. Oral communication at the Annual Conference of the British Psychological Society, pp.78, 24-27 March, 1994, Brighton Centre.

Potter. C.L. (1992). An investigation into the temporal patterning of pre-competitive anxiety in competitors of British Horse Society Novice Horse Trials. Oral communication at the 10th International Scientific Students Conference at the Hungarian University of Physical Education, pp. 84-85, 14-15 May, 1992, Budapest.