Dissertation Award
The annual Dissertation Award recognizes outstanding student research by a doctoral student who has the greatest potential for making a significant contribution to the theoretical and applied knowledge base in sport, exercise, and performance psychology.
Completion of the dissertation must occur within two years of the award application deadline.
Applications should include the following:
- A 1500-word abstract (maximum) which will be evaluated in terms of quality of (a) introduction, (b) review of literature, (c) methodology/statistics, (d) discussion, and (e) contribution to science and/or practice.
- The name and contact information of the student’s advisor(s).
- Documentation of successful completion of the dissertation.
Award criteria and timeline updates approved by the Executive Committee on August 4, 2024.
SEPP Annual Dissertation Award
2025
Myungjin Jung, PhD, "Effects of Mechanisms of Cognitive Impairment During Vigorous-Intensity Exercise”
2024
Diana Curtis, PhD, "Today is not my day: Development of a Self Handicapping Scale for Competitive Amateur Distance Runners”
2023
John Andrew Walsh, PhD, "Black Male Collegiate Football Players’ Experiences of Racial Mistreatment and Its Effects: A Qualitative Analysis”
Geralyn Ruissen, PhD, "Affective Dynamics Underlying Physical Activity Behavior Engagement; A Matter of (continuous) Time”
2022
Stephanie Barrett, PhD, "Bodies in Motion for Life: A Long-Term Qualitative Evaluation of an ED Prevention Program with Retired Female Athletes”
2021
Hayley Perelman, PhD, “Decreasing Body Dissatisfaction in Male College Athletes: A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Male Athlete Body Project”
2020
Marina Harris, PhD, “Influence of sport-specific cognition and emotion regulation on symptoms of anxiety and depression in college athletes”
2019
Alexandra Thompson, PhD, “Eating Disorder Diagnosis and the Female Athlete: From College Sport to Retirement”
2018
Daniel J. Brown, PhD, “Human Thriving: A Conceptualization, Understanding, and Application to Sport”
2017
Sean Locke, PhD, "Exercise-Related Cognitive Errors: Measurement, Validation, and Process"
2016
Jaclyn P. Maher, PhD, "The Dynamics of Daily Sedentary Behavior in Older Adults"
2015
Thomas Curran, PhD, "Psychosocial Mechanisms Underpinning Motivation in Youth Sport Participants"
2014
Kaitlynn Sedabres, PhD, "The Moderating Effects of Self- and Other Efficacy on Motivation in Swimming Relays"
2013
Edson Filho, PhD, "Cohesion, Team Mental Models, and Collective Efficacy: Toward an Integrated, Nomological Network of Team Sports"
2012
Sarah S. Kohlstedt, PhD, "Psychosocial Development in College Students: A Cross-Sectional Comparison Between Athletes and Non-Athletes"
2011
No winner
2010
Carly Raab Anderson, PhD, "Test of an Etiological Model: Development of Disordered Eating in Female Collegiate Gymnasts and Swimmers/Divers"
2009
Mercedes Carswell, PhD, "Predictors of Retirement Distress Among Male Former Intercollegiate Athletes"
2008
No Winner
2007
Kimberlee Bethany Bonura, PhD, "The Impact of Yoga on Psychological Health in Older Adults"
2006
No Winner
2005
Jennifer Woodgate, PhD, "Self-efficacy Theory and the Self-regulation of Exercise Behavior"
2004
Amy Latimer, PhD, "Bridging the Gap: Promoting Physical Activity Among Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury Within the Context of the Theory of Planned Behavior"
2003
Tracie Rogers, PhD, "The Mediating Effects of Peripheral Vision in the Life Stress-Athletic Injury Relationship"
2002
Shawn Arent, PhD, "Dose-Response and Mechanistic Issues in the Strength Training and Affect Relationship"
2001
Roland Carlstedt, PhD, "Line Bisecting Test Reveals Relative Left Brain Hemispheric Predominance in Highly Skilled Athletes: Relationships Among Cerebral Laterality, Personality and Sport Performance"
2000
Renee Newcomer, EdD, "Cognitive-Affective, Behavioral, and Physiological Response to Injury among Competitive Athletes"
2000
S. Nicole Culos-Reed, PhD, "Use of Social-Cognitive Theories in the Study of Physical Activity and Fibromyalgia: Self-Efficacy Theory and the Theory of Planned Behavior "
1999
Claudio Nigg, PhD, "Predicting, Explaining, and Understanding Adolescent Exercise Behavior Using Longitudinal and Cross-Sectional Approaches"
1998
Gregory Norman, "A Cluster Analytic Test of the Transtheoretical Model Applied to Exercise and Behavior"
1997
Alan Smith, "Peer Relationship and Physical Activity Participation in Early Adolescence"
1996
Kathleen Martin, "Self-handicapping in Sport and Physical Activity: Conceptualizing and Measuring an Elusive Concept"
1995
Gabrielle Reed, "Measuring Stage of Change for Exercise" (Behavior Change, Urica E2)
1994
Patricia Smith, "Integration of the Theories of Reasoned Action, Planned Behaviour, and Self-Efficacy in the Prediction of Exercise Behaviour"
1993
Richard Albrecht, "The Effects of Positive and Negative Cognitive Social Priming on Self-Schemata, Self-Efficacy, Mood States and Motor Performance"
1992
Anthony Piparo, "Chronic Effects of Fitness on the Golf Putt"
1991
Cathy Lirgg, "Effects of Same-Sex and Coeducational Physical Education on Perceptions of Self-Confidence and Class Environment"
1990
Karla Kubitz, "Changes in the Stress Response Following Aerobic Training: An Examination of Underlying Mechanisms"
1989
Debbie Crews and Diane Weise, "The Influence of Attentive States on Golf Putting as Indicated by Cardiac and Electrocortical Activity"
1988
John Raglin, "Stress Responses and Performance in Competitive Swimmers"
SSEPP Annual Thesis/Master’s Project Award
2025
Hailey Chatterton, “A Mixed Methods Exploration of the Relationship Between Anxiety and Pre-Performance Routines in Collegiate Golfers”
2022
Derek Sokoloff, MA, MBA, “The Relationship of Coach-Created Motivational Climate to Teamwork Behavior”
2021
Megan Drew, “The Mental Health Screening of Student Athletes by NCAA Athletic Departments”
2020
Randi Jackson, MS, “Survey of psychology professionals on their involvement in sport and performance psychology services”
2019
Alexandra Rodriguez, “Exploring Social Comparison and Sociocultural Attitudes in Athletes with Physical Disabilities”
2018
Rena Marie Goodwin, “Self-Stigma, Attitudes, and Preferences When Seeking Mental Health and Sport Psychology Services: A Student-Athlete Point of View”
2017
Zenzi Huysmans, "A Preliminary Exploration of the Application of Self-Compassion Within the Context of Sport Injury"
2016
Erika Van Dyke, "Exploring Relationships Among Self-Talk and Balance Beam Performance in Gymnastics"
2015
Kayla Carrigan, "To Weigh or Not to Weigh---Relation to Disordered Eating Attitudes and Behaviors Among Female Collegiate Athletes"
2014
No Winner