Dr Emily J. Oliver

Lecturer, Sport and Exercise Psychology. Director of Admissions.
Photograph of Dr Emily J. Oliver.

Contact

Email: ejo@aber.ac.uk
Phone: 01970 621543

Profile

Emily received a BSc. (Hons) degree in Sport Science with Psychology from the University of Wales, Bangor in 2005 followed by an MSc. in Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology in 2006. Emily then completed her PhD in Sport and Exercise Psychology, which focuses on the application of self-determination theory as a framework to understand the antecedents and effects of self-talk. She is a British Psychological Society Chartered Psychologist and a member of the Institute for the Psychology of Elite Performance. In addition, Emily was awarded a Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education (PGCTHE) in 2009, and is now a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. She was appointed as a Lecturer at Aberystwyth University in October 2009.

Teaching Areas

  • Psychology of Elite Performance
  • Motivation and Behaviour Change

Research

Principal Areas of Interest

Psychological factors involved in elite performance, and in the initiation and regulation of human behaviour.  Research areas include motivation (specifically self-determination theory), self-talk, and leadership.

Recent Funded Projects:

Oliver, E.J., & Roberts, C.W. (2012) Enhancing engagement in community regeneration: exploring the application of a value-oriented behavior change technique. Funder: Richard Benjamin Trust.

Oliver, E.J., & Thatcher, J.T.  (2012) Aligning novel technology with exercise motivation and participation. Funder: Welsh Government - Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarship.

Thatcher, J., Oliver, E.J., Geisler, G., & Kuroda, Y. (2011) Establishing an Anglo-Japanese research network to specialise in cross-cultural factors influencing coaching and leadership efficacy. Funder: DAIWA Foundation.

 

Staff Publications

Tod, D., Hardy, J., & Oliver, E.J. (2011).  Effects of self-talk: A systematic review.  Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 33(5), 666-687.  

Beattie, S., Leif, D., Adamoulas, M., & Oliver, E.J. (2011). Self-efficacy and performance: Investigating the possible negative effects of self-efficacy upon golf putting performance. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 12, 434-441.

Oliver, E.J., Hardy, J., & Markland, D.M. (2010).  Exploring elite coaches' views of athletes' practice behaviors.  Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 11, 433-443.

Oliver, E.J., Markland, D., & Hardy, J. (2010). Interpretation of self-talk and post-lecture affective states of higher education students: A self-determination theory perspective. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 80(2), 307-323.

Law, R., Breslin, A., Oliver, E.J., Mawn, L., Markland, D., Maddison, P., & Thom, J.  (2010). Patient perceptions of the effects of exercise on joint health in rheumatoid arthritis.  Rheumatology, 49(12), 2444-5.

Oliver, E.J. (2010).  Group Cohesion in Sport.  In D. Tod, J. Thatcher, & R. Rachman (Eds.) Sport Psychology. Basingstoke: Palgrave macmillan.

Oliver, E.J., Markland, D., Hardy, J., & Petherick, C.M. (2008). The Effects of Autonomy-Supportive and Controlling Environments on Self-Talk. Motivation and Emotion, 32(3), 200-212.

Markland, D. & Oliver, E.J. (2008). The Sociociultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-3: A confirmatory factor analysis. Body Image: An International Journal of Research. 5(1), 116-121.

Oliver, E.J., Arthur, C.A., & Hardy, L.  (2008). Interactive effects of challenging and supportive transformational leadership on self-confidence and resilience.  Journal of Sports Sciences, 26, S2, 14-15. 

Hardy, J., Oliver, E.J., & Tod, D. (2008). A Framework for the Study and Application of Self-talk within Sport. In S. D. Mellalieu & S. Hanton (eds.) Advances in Applied Sport Psychology. London: Routledge.