Biography
Chair; Associate Professor
BA (Bishop’s); MA, PhD (Queen’s)
Dr. MacDonald is a sport psychologist whose interests lie in the development of youth in sport.
My main research interests focus on the development of youth through sport. More specifically, I am interested in how we can use sport as a vehicle to teach children positive skills and values (such as responsibility, initiative, confidence) they will be able to use for the rest of their lives. Additional lines of research examine expert athlete development through environmental (i.e., city size of birth) and individual (i.e., coaching) factors. Finally, I have a strong interest in research methods and statistical analyses which have led to research on instrument development and validation.
Recent Publications
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A qualitative study of research priorities among representatives of Canadian Provincial Sport Organizations
- Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 2018
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Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the youth experience survey for sport (P-YES-S) [Latest Articles]
- Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science, 2018
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Validation of PiezoRx pedometer derived sedentary time
- International Journal of Exercise Science, 2018
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The relationship between sedentary behaviour and physical literacy in Canadian children: an analysis from the RBC-CAPL Learn to Play study
- Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 2017
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Youth sport coaches’ perspective on positive youth development and its worth in mainstream coach education courses
- International Sport Coaching Journal, 2017
Research Classification
- No classification given
Research Interests
- Positive youth development
- Development of expertise in athletes coaching
Current Scholars in Applied Human Sciences
