Introduction to psychology/Psy102/Assessment/Essay/General feedback/Exercise
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Essay question
[edit | edit source]What are the short and longer-term psychological effects of physical exercise and what causes these effects? Discuss with reference to psychological theories and research.
Feedback about the exercise topic essays
[edit | edit source]The psychological effects of physical exercise essay topic was the second most popular (out of 7 topics), with 51 essays (out of 215 submitted) in Psychology 102 in 2009. ("Why do we dream?" was the most popular topic).
Good essays tended to
[edit | edit source]- Define exercise in some way
- Distinguish between different types of exercise e.g., aerobic/anaerobic, intensity, duration, frequency etc. and consider whether these types have differential psychological effects
- Differentiate in some meaningful way between short-term and long-term psychological effects of exercise (this was part of the question) - these could include but are not limited to: depression, anxiety, stress, self-efficacy, self-esteem, mood, body image, social inclusion
- Consider whether the psychological effects are "always good" (a critical, objective perspective is needed) - weaker essays tended to be more simplistic in their answer about the psychological effects of physical exercise
- Explain what causes exercise to illicit/produce these psychological effects (could include: increase/decrease in certain neurotransmitters, catharsis, distraction, mastery/self-efficacy, group sports impact on social aspects, etc.).
- You were also required to use theory to support these ideas (some theories you could have mentioned include and are not limited to: thermogenic hypothesis and monoamine hypothesis in relation to depression, cerebral lateralisation hypothesis in relation to anxiety, Bandura’s self-efficacy theory, social-cognitive theory, theory of planned behaviour, and many more!).
- Use peer-reviewed research, preferably from journal articles to support all these points.
- Finally, many essays failed to use critical evaluation. (so comment and critique the literature you present, what are the flaws and strengths etc.)
Less good essays tended to
[edit | edit source]- Not answer the essay question.
- Lack sufficient evidence of reading and understanding of peer-reviewed research and review articles
Sample essay
[edit | edit source]