Dr Jenny Smith
Innovation Lead, Reader in Performance Psychology
About
Jenny is a reader in Performance Psychology, a member of the Occupational Performance Research Group (OPRG), and a visiting researcher at Kings College London (KCL). She has 13 years experience in applied occupational research working with water safety organisations. She is research active (REF 2014 [ECR], REF 2021) focused in the area of drowning prevention. She has been the principal investigator for numerous research projects including for organisations such as the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK). Jenny has recently led studies exploring the 10:20 system of bather observation and well as quantifying the interventions performed by pool-based lifeguards.
Jenny is also an HCPC registered Sport and Exercise Psychologist who specialises in optimising performance and wellbeing. She works with a range of clients helping them to achieve their full potential through scientifically-informed; needs analyses, case formulation, intervention planning and delivery, and monitoring and evaluation processes.
Jenny is acting programme coordinator for the British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited and British Association of Sports and Exercise Sciences (BASES) endorsed MSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology. She supervises undergraduate and postgraduate research projects and is currently supervising two PhD students and five sport and exercise psychology trainees. Jenny has active research collaborations with colleagues at other Universities, Industry and National Governing Bodies in the UK and overseas.
Professional
Education:
- 2005 – 2009 PhD, University of Liverpool,
- 2003 – 2004 MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology, University of Chichester,
- 2000 – 2003 BSc (Hons) Sports Science, University of Chichester
Teaching:
- Applied Sport Psychology Delivering mental strategies (level 6)
- Applied Sport Psychology Professional Practice (level 6)
- Professional Practice in Sport and Exercise Psychology (level 7)
Professional activities, roles and memberships:
- British Psychological Society (BPS) Training Committee member
- British Psychological Society (BPS) Register of Applied Psychology Practice Supervisors
- Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registered Sport and Exercise Psychologist
- British Psychological Society (BPS) chartered psychologist
- British Association of Sport and Exercise Science (BASES) accredited Sport and Exercise Scientist
- Higher Education Academy (HEA) fellow
- Expertise and Skill Acquisition Network (ESAN) member
- Journal reviewer:
Research
Jenny’s primary research area is drowning prevention. She is a Reader and active member of the Occupational Performance Research Group (OPRG) at the University of Chichester. She is an HCPC registered Sport and Exercise Psychologist and BPS accredited chartered psychologist. She has recently conducted studies into the identification of cognitive factors that underpin hazard detection by lifeguards, decision-making process employed by lifeguards, and observation strategies used by lifeguards. She is currently leading research investigating differences in brain volume, brain function, and brain pathway connectivity between experienced and novice lifeguards as well as using MRI to determine the mechanisms that underpin improvements in hazard detection in collaboration with KCL. She is also currently the principal investigator for a project determining the efficacy of the 10:20 system of bather observation and well as quantifying the interventions performed by pool-based lifeguards. For such projects, we have achieved over £200,000 in funding. Jenny has provided research for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK).
Research Output
Articles
Sharpe, B. T. and Smith, J. (2024) Influence of vigilance performance on lifeguard gaze behaviour. Europe's Journal of Psychology, 20 (3). pp. 220-233. ISSN 1841-0413 10.23668/psycharchives.14188
Gunning, S. and Smith, J. (2024) Applying positive psychology in sport: a trainee’s case study. Journal of Sport Psychology in Action. pp. 1-11. ISSN 2152-0712 10.1080/21520704.2024.2350487
Sharpe, B. T., Smith, M. S., Williams, S. C. R., Hampshire, A., Balaet, M., Trender, W., Hellyer, P., Talbot, J. and Smith, J. (2023) Cognition and lifeguard detection performance. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 38 (1). pp. 1-15. ISSN 1099-0720 10.1002/acp.4139
Sharpe, B. T., Smit, M. S., Williams, S. C. R., Talbot, J., Runswick, O. R. and Smith, J. (2023) An expert-novice comparison of lifeguard specific vigilance performance. Journal of Safety Research, 87. pp. 416-430. ISSN 0022-4375 10.1016/j.jsr.2023.08.014
Szecsi, D., Gunning, S., Howells, K. and Smith, J. (2023) Implementing a novel team performance profiling activity with young athletes. Journal of Sport Psychology in Action. pp. 1-12. ISSN 2152-0712 10.1080/21520704.2023.2231382
Smith, J., Long, G., Dawes, P., Runswick, O. R. and Tipton, M. J. (2021) Changes in Lifeguards' Hazard Detection and Eye Movements with Experience: Is One Season Enough? International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education, 13 (1). ISSN 1932-9997 10.25035/ijare.13.01.06
Omrani, A., Wakefield-Scurr, J., Smith, J., Wadey, R. and Brown, N. (2020) Breast education improves adolescent girls’ breast knowledge, attitudes to breasts and engagement with positive breast habits. Frontiers in Public Health, 8. ISSN 2296-2565 10.3389/fpubh.2020.591927
Omrani, A., Wakefield-Scurr, J., Smith, J. and Brown, N. (2019) The Development and Psychometric Properties of a Survey to Assess Breast Knowledge and Attitudes of Adolescent Girls. American Journal of Health Education, 50 (6). pp. 374-389. ISSN 1932-5037 10.1080/19325037.2019.1663380
Omrani, A., Wakefield-Scurr, J., Smith, J. and Brown, N. (2018) Survey Development for Adolescents Aged 11 to 16 Years: A Developmental Science Based Guide. Adolescent Research Review. pp. 1-12. ISSN 2363-8346 10.1007/s40894-018-0089-0
Graham, G., Sauer, J., Akehurst, L., Smith, J. and Hillstrom, A. (2018) CCTV observation: The effects of event type and instructions on fixation behaviour in an applied change blindness task. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 32 (1). pp. 4-13. ISSN 1099-0720 10.1002/acp.3372
Szpilman, D., Doyle, B., Smith, J., Griffiths, R. and Tipton, M. (2018) Challenges and Feasibility of Applying Reasoning and Decision Making for a Lifeguard Undertaking a Rescue. International Journal of Emergency Mental Health and Human Resilience, 19 (4). pp. 1-9. ISSN 1522-4821 10.4172/1522-4821.1000379
Brown, N., Smith, J., Brasher, A., Risius, D., Marczyk, A. and Wakefield-Scurr, J. (2017) Breast education for schoolgirls; why, what, when and how? The Breast Journal, 24 (3). pp. 377-382. ISSN 1075-122X 10.1111/tbj.12945
Brown, N., Smith, J., Brasher, A., Atefeh, O. and Wakefield-Scurr, J. (2017) Breast cancer education for schoolgirls: An exploratory study. European Journal of Cancer Prevention. ISSN 0959-8278 10.1097/CEJ.0000000000000356
Scurr, J., Brown, N., Smith, J., Brasher, A., Risius, D. and Marczyk, A. (2016) The Influence of the Breast on Sport and Exercise Participation in School Girls in the United Kingdom. Journal of Adolescent Health, 58 (2). pp. 167-173. ISSN 1054-139X 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2015.10.005
Other department members
Amber Hartigan
Lecturer in Sports Therapy
