Ken Hodge

Ken HodgeMS(Montana) PhD(Ill)
Tel 64 3 479 8945
Email ken.hodge@otago.ac.nz

Background

Dr Hodge is a Professor in sport and exercise psychology at the School of Physical Education, University of Otago, New Zealand (NZ). He joined the School in 1988, after completing his PhD at the University of Illinois (USA). His research focuses primarily on the psycho-social effects of participation in sport. In particular, he has investigated issues such as motivational orientations in sport, athlete burnout and athlete engagement, lifeskill development through sport, and prosocial and antisocial behaviour in sport.

Dr Hodge currently serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology (USA) and is a member of the Editorial Boards for Psychology of Sport & Exercise (Europe), The Sport Psychologist (USA), and Sport, Exercise, & Performance Psychology (USA). In addition, he regularly contributes as a reviewer for international journals such as the Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology (USA), Journal of Sports Sciences (UK), and Motivation & Emotion (USA).

Ken currently serves on the Executive Board for Sport & Exercise Science NZ, and is a former President of the NZ Sport Psychology Association (1992-1996). He also acted as Deputy-Chairman of the NZ Federation of Sports Medicine from 1993-1995; and as a board member for Sport Otago (1998-2004). 

In addition, Ken has extensive experience working with elite NZ athletes as a Mental Skills Trainer (e.g., 1990, 1994, 1998 Commonwealth Games, 1992 Summer Olympics; 2006 Winter Olympics; NZ Colts Rugby, 2002-2005; Highlanders Super 14 Rugby Team, 2010; Silver Ferns Netball, 2006-2007; NZ Academy of Sport athletes, 2002-2010). 

Research Interests

  • Prosocial and Antisocial Behaviour in Sport
  • Sport and LifeSkill Development
  • Athlete Burnout & Engagement
  • Motivational Orientations in Sport
  • Rugby Research: Psychological Issues

Prosocial and Antisocial Behaviour in Sport.  Working with Dr Chris Lonsdale (University of Western Sydney, Australia) and Dr Elaine Hargreaves (Otago) we are examining a number of issues related to prosocial and antisocial behaviour in sport; from a Self-Determination Theory perspective. We have investigated the role of coaching style, autonomous vs. controlled motivation, and moral disengagement with respect to a range of prosocial and antisocial behaviours in sport, including drug-taking susceptibility. One paper published, another under review.

Athlete Burnout & Engagement.  In conjunction with Dr Chris Lonsdale (University of Western Sydney, Australia) and Dr Tom Raedeke (E. Carolina University, USA) we are examining motivational issues (self-determination theory) related to ‘athlete burnout’.  I also worked with Drs Lonsdale and Raedeke on a related project examining motivational issues underpinning ‘athlete engagement’. Finally along with Dr Lonsdale, we worked with Dr Sue Jackson (University of Queensland) on a project investigating the relationship between ‘athlete engagement’ and ‘flow’’ in sport. We have published five papers in the area of athlete burnout and engagement.

Sport and LifeSkill Development in NZ.  In conjunction with Prof Steve Danish (Virginia Commonwealth University, USA) I was involved in the development of a NZ version of the ‘GOAL LifeSkills Programme’ and a line of research investigating the effects of the GOAL Programme on psycho-social development. In addition, I was involved with Prof Danish in the design and development of a new lifeskills programme -- SUPER (Sports United for the Promotion of Education and Recreation).  Prof Danish and I have published a number of papers and book chapters.

PE and LifeSkill Development in Japan.  In conjunction with Prof Tamotsu Nishida (Nagoya University, Japan) I am involved as the ‘Foreign Cooperating Investigator’ in the development of a Japanese version of a ‘PE LifeSkills Programme’ and a line of research investigating the effects of the School PE LifeSkills Programme on psycho-social development for adolescent children in Japan.

Maori Research: I have supervised a number of students examining Kaupapa Maori Research issues (i.e., Ihi Heke, Roanne Hurley, Jordan Waiti).

Selected Publications

  • Hodge, K., Sharp, L., & Heke, J.I.C. (2011, in press). Sport psychology consulting with indigenous athletes: The case of New Zealand Māori. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology. 
  • Sharp, L., & Hodge, K. (2011). Sport psychology consulting effectiveness: The sport psychology consultant’s perspective.  Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 23, 360-376.
  • Hodge, K., & Lonsdale, C.  (2011). Prosocial and antisocial behavior in sport: The role of coaching style, autonomous vs. controlled motivation, and moral disengagement. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 33, 527-547. (2011).
  • Lonsdale, C., & Hodge, K. (2011). Temporal ordering of motivational quality and athlete burnout in elite sport. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 43, 913-921.
  • Ng, J. Y. Y., Lonsdale, C., & Hodge, K. (2011). The Basic Needs Satisfaction in Sport Scale (BNSSS): Instrument development and initial validity evidence. Psychology of Sport & Exercise, 12, 257-264. 
  • Hodge, K.  (2010). Working at the Olympics.  In S. Hanrahan & M. Andersen (Eds.), Handbook of Applied Sport Psychology (pp. 405-413). Oxford, UK: Routledge.
  • Houge, S., Hodge, K. & Boyes, M. (2010). A positive learning spiral of skill development in high risk recreation: Reversal Theory and flow.  Journal of Experiential Education, 32, 285-289.
  • Houge, S., Hodge, K. & Boyes, M.  (2010). The phasic nature of flow in high risk recreation.  Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, & Leadership, 2, 51-54.
  • Lonsdale, C., Hodge, K., & Rose, E.  (2009). Athlete burnout in elite sport: A Self-Determination perspective. Journal of Sports Sciences, 27, 785-795.
  • Hodge, K., Lonsdale, C., & Jackson, S.  (2009). Athlete engagement in elite sport: An exploratory investigation of antecedents and consequences. The Sport Psychologist, 23, 186-202. 
  • Hodge, K., & Hermansson, G.  (2009). Psychological Preparation of Athletes for the Olympic Context: Team Culture and Team-Building. In R. Schinke (Ed.), Contemporary Sport Psychology (pp. 55-70). New York, USA: Nova Science.

Recent Research Students:

PhD
Lee-Ann Sharp
Susan Houge

MPhEd
Natalie Fraser
Peter Sanford
Tom Willmott

BPhEd (Hons)
Michaela Ronke
Megan Gilchrist

To see details of postgraduate students this staff member may be supervising please visit the Postgraduate Profiles section of our website.

Last updated 23 Jan 2012

University of Otago The School of Physical Education - Te Kura Akoraka Whakakori