
Sam J CooleyUniversity of Leicester | LE · School of Psychology
Sam J Cooley
Ph.D CPsychol
About
41
Publications
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Introduction
Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society and Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK.
Research areas include life-skills, sport psychology, positive youth development, outdoor education, experiential learning, groupwork, learning transfer.
Twitter: @samjoecooley
Personal Website: www.samjoecooley.com
Additional affiliations
June 2010 - September 2010
April 2014 - present
September 2011 - present
Education
September 2008 - July 2011
Publications
Publications (41)
Purpose:
This paper aims to evaluate the perceived efficacy of outdoor groupwork skills programmes for undergraduate and postgraduate students, and the factors that influence its success. It also illustrates the use of Kirkpatrick’s (1994) 4-level model of training evaluation as a framework for qualitative investigation of learning and transfer, fr...
Our thoughts and feelings towards groupwork and outdoor learning impact our subsequent engagement in, and learning from, such activities. This study explores the impact of a pre-course video when used in preparation for an outdoor groupwork skills course. The video was designed according to the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) to enhance intention...
Individuals, particularly those considered “hard-to-reach,” often engage well with assessment tools that involve active dialogue and the co-construction of knowledge. Strengths profiling is one such tool that enables a person-centered and autonomy supportive approach to the identification of character strengths. Strength profiling is an adaptation...
Time spent in natural outdoor spaces has physiological and psychological benefits, such as reduced stress responses and improved mood. Mental health practitioners have begun to harness nature's restorative capacity by challenging convention and taking talking therapies outdoors. This review synthesises the experiences of these practitioners and the...
Background: Global Minority country contexts, alongside outdoor and natural environments, influence refugees’ heterogenous place attachments (PA). Yet, forced migration and clinical psychology policies minimally acknowledge this. Traditional psychological interventions alone are insufficient for refugee healing; contemporary guidelines encourage re...
Objective
Talking therapy can be highly effective when located outdoors. However, much of the previous research has centred around counselling and psychotherapy professions. This study aimed to explore the attitudes and experiences of clinical psychologists.
Design
A cross-sectional survey was used to gain a broad perspective.
Method
215 particip...
The poster describes our research project on outdoor therapy sessions:
Few studies have explored outdoor therapy when facilitated by clinical psychologists
within an inpatient mental health service. In the present study, outdoor psychology
sessions were introduced after service users (SUs) expressed a desire to return to
face-to-face working duri...
My Strengths Training for Life™ (MST4Life™) is a positive youth development program for improving wellbeing and social inclusion in young people experiencing homelessness. MST4Life™ addresses a gap in strengths-based programs aimed at promoting healthy and optimal development in vulnerable older adolescents/emerging adults. The program was co-devel...
Objectives
To explore the factors impacting successful delivery of MST4Life™, a sport psychology informed mental skills training intervention, from the perspective of young people experiencing homelessness. Engaging participants in evaluating programme implementation contributes to developing effective and meaningful programmes and provides opportu...
Traditionally, UK housing services have focused on providing temporary accommodation, identifying risk factors, and preventing negative outcomes to young people experiencing homelessness. However, deficit approaches may lead young people to becoming dependent on services and face greater marginalisation and stigmatisation. Meeting long-standing cal...
Few studies have explored outdoor therapy when facilitated by clinical psychologists within an inpatient mental health service. In the present study, outdoor psychology sessions were introduced after service users (SUs) expressed a desire to return to face-to-face working during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to explore SUs’ and clinical p...
Objectives:
There is growing support within the therapy professions for using talking therapy in alternative environments, such as outdoor spaces. The aim of the present study was to further understand how the organizational culture in clinical psychology may prevent or enable practitioners to step outside the conventional indoor consulting room....
Despite a wealth of evidence supporting walking groups in general populations, few studies are situated in mental health services. This study explores patient and facilitator experiences during a year-long occupational therapy-led walking group. Specific aims were to study the impact of urban versus green spaces and the process by which outcomes tr...
Outdoor talking therapy is an evidence-based approach. It is typically used to combine the conventional outcomes of indoor therapy with the known benefits of connecting with the natural world. Meeting with clients in open, outdoor spaces can permit an authentic, human-to-human encounter, whilst at the same time allowing for physical distancing in l...
WEIGHING THE DEAD, MINCED TESTICLES, ELECTRIFIED STOCKINGS, SELF-INDUCED INSOMNIA, CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, AND MORE... A COLLECTION OF THE MOST OUTLANDISH EXPERIMENTS IN HISTORY
Immerse yourself in this unique collection of outrageous experiments that would never be permitted today. Dr. Cooley has trawled through ancient journal archives to dig out t...
Opportunities to attend training courses abound for staff and students alike, either as compulsory elements of academic programmes or contracts, or as voluntary options for self-development. It is generally assumed that the content of the training programme will be utilised in future experiences in a process known as transfer (Gass, 1999). However,...
The primary aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of combining layered stimulus response training (LSRT) with one week of imagery rehearsal on exercise imagery ability. Further aims were to investigate pre-to post-intervention changes in exercise related feeling states and interest/enjoyment, and determine if imagery ability at pos...
This study investigates the initial development of groupwork skills through outdoor adventure education (OAE) and the factors that predict the extent of this development, using the first two levels of Kirkpatrick’s model of training evaluation. University students (N = 238) completed questionnaires measuring their initial reactions to OAE (Level 1...
Results from previous studies suggest that stressful environmental conditions such as those faced on expedition may result in psychological growth. Building on previous research, the present cross-sectional study examined the role of personality and perceived stress in relation to post- expedition growth. Eighty-three participants who had completed...
The ability to generate and control images is an important factor in determining the effectiveness of imagery interventions. Despite evidence that imagery ability improves with practice, until recently, few established ways for its development existed. This article describes the application of layered stimulus response training (LSRT), a technique...
In 2007, Kanas and colleagues emphasised the value of astronauts undergoing survival training in
order to foster group cohesion for future space missions. Extreme contexts such as mountain-climbing,
polar-overwintering and desert-expeditions were identified as settings in which survival training could occur.
Despite survival activities being identi...
Objectives:
The aim of the present research was to examine expedition characteristics and personal factors underpinning post-return growth following different types of expedition experience.
Design:
A mixed method design incorporating both quantitative and qualitative approaches was used to address the objectives of the study. Initially a multi-s...
For the majority of students, the ability to work effectively with others is an important part of higher education and future employment. Outdoor adventure education (OAE) courses are therefore used in higher education to provide students with a unique and challenging environment for developing transferrable groupwork skills. Working in an action r...
Groupwork is an increasingly popular method of learning in higher education and the ability to work effectively with others is important for academic success and employability. This systematic review investigated the use of outdoor adventure education (OAE) in facilitating the development of transferable groupwork skills in higher education. The st...
This study investigated whether imaging a brisk walk once a day over a week could increase barrier self-efficacy among women who wanted to increase their exercise behavior. Participants (N = 32, mean age = 31.90 years, SD = 10.17) were randomly allocated to either an imagery rehearsal group or control group. The 4 min 10 s guided imagery script was...
The aim of the present study was to develop and provide psychometric evidence in support of the Groupwork Skills Questionnaire (GSQ) for measuring task and interpersonal groupwork skills. A 46-item version of the GSQ was initially completed by 672 University students. The number of items was reduced to 15 following exploratory factor analyses and a...
Objectives:
Providing care for a family member with dementia is associated with increased risk of adverse mental health sequelae. Recently, interventions utilising meditation-based techniques have been developed with the aim of reducing psychological distress among dementia caregivers. The present review aimed to critically evaluate the extant emp...
Outdoor adventure education courses are used in higher education to develop transferable skills such as groupwork and problem-solving skills. There is a need for exploratory investigation into students’ perceptions of this experience. This study aimed to develop an innovative qualitative data collection method, and to use it to explore students’ pe...
This is a guide to using the Groupwork Skills Questionnaire (GSQ) in Higher Education as part of the Birmingham Evaluating Skills Transfer (BEST) Project. For more information, see www.bestskills.co.uk.
Background
Students working in cross-cultural groups can experience challenges, including different language skills and understanding of interpersonal behaviours. Without appropriate skills to manage these differences, cultural isolation can occur if people choose to primarily work with those of similar backgrounds. This study explores the benefit...
This article provides guidelines for coaches and applied practitioners to create effective imagery scripts for use with their athletes. Supported by the imagery literature, we describe the planning, writing, delivering, and evaluating stages of script development. We explain the importance of considering the five Ws (Who, Where and When, Why, and W...
Imagery studies have varied widely in the methods used to deliver guided imagery interventions. This variation has led to difficulties comparing studies and uncertainty as to what methods should be followed. A review is needed to evaluate the interventions to date to inform applied recommendations. The aim of this systematic review was to (1) asses...
This study aimed to test Lang’s bioinformational theory by comparing the effects of layered stimulus and response training (LSRT) with imagery practice on improvements in imagery ability and performance of a motor skill (golf putting) in 24 novices (age, M = 20.13 years; SD = 1.65; 12 female) low in imagery ability. Participants were randomly assig...
Questions
Questions (2)
My research group has recently been using a fairly novel method of qualitative data collection - the 'Big Brother' style video diary room (see my profile for our article titled "Introducing the use of a semi-structured video diary room…2014"). We decided to use this method because (in the context we used it in) we thought it would be more engaging for participants and allow us to capture experiences as they were unfolding. We found it to be an excellent method that provided a range of additional benefits when used alongside conventional data collection techniques. <br /><br />
My question is, particularly in social sciences, should researchers be content with conventional methods of data collection or should we be on the look out for new methods that may better engage future (and existing) generations? It would also be interesting to hear if anyone else has been experimenting with any, more novel, methods?
The Kirkpatrick model offers a four-level framework to guide the evaluation of training courses. It appears that quantitative methods are predominately used when following this model, particularly in Level 2 and Level 4 evaluation. Is it possible for all four levels to be satisfied using only qualitative research methods?
Note added: Please see our recent publication where we have used the Kirkpatrick model to conduct a qualitative evaluation of a training programme: "Developing the Model for Optimal Learning and Transfer (MOLT) following an evaluation of outdoor groupwork skills programmes"