Matthew Slater

• Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol) with the British Psychological Society (BPS) since 2015.
• Committee member of the Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology (2015-2018).
• Professional member of the British Psychological Society (BPS) since 2009.
• Full member of Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology.
• Fellow of Higher Education Academy since 2012.
• Previous professional member of Association of Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) and British Association for Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES).

• PhD. Staffordshire University. 2015. Title: “Perceived and behavioural consequences of social identity leadership in performance settings” (Supervisors Dr Jamie Barker, Prof Marc Jones, and Dr Peter Coffee – External, University of Stirling).
• MSc (with Distinction) Sport and Exercise Psychology. Loughborough University; 2010.
• BSc (Hons) First Class Honours in Sport and Exercise Psychology. Staffordshire University; 2009. My results profile was recognised by the British Psychological Society for best Undergraduate profile.
• Post Graduate Certificate in Research Supervision (with Distinction), July 2016.
• Postgraduate Certificate in Higher and Professional Education. Staffordshire University; 2012.
• Postgraduate Certificate in Research Methods. Staffordshire University; 2011.

• My primary interests are in the psychology of leadership and team functioning. My work focuses on the social identity approach to leadership and group dynamics, and evidence-based programme to develop leadership skills and team functioning.
• The application of psychological skills to enhance individuals’ psychological health and individuals’, teams’, and organisations’ performance.

• The main focus of my research centres on the psychology of leadership and team functioning.
• Alongside colleagues I explore the influence of social identity leadership on followers’ psychology and behaviour.
• My work also takes theory to practice by developing and evaluating evidence-based leadership development programmes to optimise leadership.
• In addition, I am involved in projects and have published around the themes of team identities, psychophysiological responses to stress, Personal-Disclosure Mutual-Sharing, Rational-Emotive Behaviour Therapy, and single-case designs in professional sport and business contexts.

As a practitioner, I apply my expertise of leadership, group dynamics and psychological skills in sport, the military, and across public and private sector organisations.

In sport, I worked with Stoke City Ladies Football Club and Girls Regional Talent Centre for 10 years, and I currently work with professional athletes from a range of sports. Previously, I have provided psychological support to Leicestershire County Cricket Club (first team and academy: 3 years), the England and Wales Cricket Board (talent development pathways: 3 years), Staffordshire County Cricket Club (EPP 14-18 years of age: 3 years), Stoke City Football Club Academy (U12-U21s: 2 years), and the England Cerebral Palsy Football in their preparation for the World Cup (2015) and Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

I consult with businesses in the areas of leadership development, psychological health, and performance psychology. For example, I have worked with Housing Associations and NEOMA Business School (Paris) on developing leadership and culture.  

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• Director of PhD programmes in Sport and Exercise Psychology.

Module leadership:

• Group Dynamics and Leadership in Sport and Exercise (MSc)
• Advanced Research Methods and Data Analysis (MSc)
• MSc Research Project (MSc)

Peer-reviewed papers:

Shah, E., J., Fransen,. K., Slater, M. J., & Barker, J. B., (2022): The impact of intra-team communication and support relationships on team identification and collective efficacy in elite team sport: A social network analysis, International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, https://doi.org/10.1080/1612197X.2022.2084761 

 Evans, A. L. Slater, M. J., & Turner, M. J. (2022). Using Personal-Disclosure Mutual-Sharing (PDMS) with first year undergraduate students transitioning to higher education. British Journal of Educational Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjep.12502 

Brown, J., & Slater, M. J. (2022). Improving identity leadership through a novel targeted reflective practice intervention. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200.2022.2098877 

Jackman, P., Slater, M. J., Carter, E. E., Sisson, K., & Bird, M. D. (2022). Social support, social identification, mental wellbeing, and psychological health in doctoral students: A person-centred analysis. Journal of Further and Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2022.2088272

Mertens, N., Boen, F., Steffens, N. K., Haslam, S. A., Bruner, M., Barker, J. B., Slater, M. J., & Fransen K. (2021). Harnessing the power of ‘us’: A randomized wait-list controlled trial of the 5R Shared Leadership Development Program (5RS) in basketball teams. Psychology of Sport and Exercise. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2021.101936.

Miller, A., Slater, M. J., & Turner, M. J. (2021). The influence of identity leadership principles on followers' challenge and threat states and motor performance. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2021.101909 

Mertens, N., Boen, F., Steffens, N. K., Haslam, S. A., Bruner, M., Barker, J. B., Slater, M. J., & Fransen K. (2021). Harnessing the power of ‘us’: A randomized wait-list controlled trial of the 5R Shared Leadership Development Program (5RS) in basketball teams. Psychology of Sport and Exercise. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2021.101936.

 Miller, A., Slater, M. J., & Turner, M. J. (2021). The influence of identity leadership principles on followers' challenge and threat states and motor performance. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 54, doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2021.101909.

Miller, A., Slater, M. J., & Turner, M. J. (2021). Shared identity content between leader and follower influences intentional mobilization and challenge and threat states. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 54, doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2021.101914.

Rowe, L., & Slater, M. J. (2021). Will “we” continue to exercise? The associations between group identification, identity leadership, and relational identification on group exercise class adherence. International Journal of Sport Sciences and Coaching. doi: 10.1177/1747954120987140

Evans, A. L., Slater, M. J., & Edwards, M. (2021). The effects of embedding social identities on perceived leadership outcomes and the intentional mobilization of group members. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 53, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2020.101879.

Turner, M. J., Massie, R., Slater, M. J., & Braithwaite, E. (2021). Do challenge and threat evaluations predict netball performance and selection at trials in youth netball players? Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, 10(1), 71–87. https://doi.org/10.1037/spy0000248.

Barker, J. B., Slater, M. J., Pugh, G., Mellalieu, S. D., McCarthy, P.J., Jones, M. V., & Moran, A. (in press). The Effectiveness of Psychological Skills Training and Behavioral Interventions in Sport using Single-Case Designs: A Meta Regression Analysis of the Peer-Reviewed Studies. Psychology of Sport and Exercise.

Carenzo, L., Braithwaite, E. C., Carfagna, F., Franc, J., Ingrassia, R. L., Turner, M. J., & Slater, M. J., & Jones, M. V. (2020). Cognitive appraisals and team performance under stress: A simulation study. Medical Education. https://doi.org/10.1111/medu.14050

Kregar, S., Wood, A., & Slater, M. J. (2020). A brief mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) intervention: Investigating the effects with recreational runners. Sport and Exercise Psychology Review, 16, 78-85.

Slater, M. J., Coffee, P., Barker, J. B., Haslam, S. A., & Steffens, N. (2019). Shared social identity content is the basis for leaders’ mobilization of followers. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 43, 271-278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2019.03.012

Chadha, N., Turner, M. J., & Slater, M. J. (2019). Investigating Irrational Beliefs, Cognitive Appraisals, Challenge and Threat, and Affective States in Golfers Approaching Competitive Situations. Frontiers in Psychology: Movement Science and Sport Psychology. October, 2019. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02295

Harwood, C. G., Thrower, S., Slater, M. J., Didymus, F., & Frearson, L. (2019). Advancing Our Understanding of Psychological Stress and Coping Among Parents in Organized Youth Sport. July, 2019. Frontiers in Psychology: Movement Science and Sport Psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01600.

Slater, M. J., & Barker, J. B. (2019). Doing social identity leadership: The efficacy of an identity leadership programme on perceived leadership and mobilization of effort. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 31, 65-86. doi:1080/10413200.2017.1410255.

Slater, M. J., Haslam, S. A., & Steffens, N. (2018). Singing it for us: Team passion during national anthems is associated with subsequent success. European Journal of Sport Science, 18, 541-549. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2018.1431311.

Slater, M. J., Turner, M. J., Evans, A. L., & Jones, M. V. (2018). “Capturing Hearts and Minds”: The influence of leader relational identification on followers’ mobilization and cardiovascular reactivity. The Leadership Quarterly, 29, 379-388. doi: 1016/j.leaqua.2017.08.003.

Turner, M. J., Slater, M. J., Dixon, J., & Miller, A. (2018). Test-retest reliability of the irrational performance beliefs inventory (iPBI). European Journal of Sport Science, 18, 123-129. doi: 10.1080/17461391.2017.1411527

Turner, M. J., Allen, M., Slater, M. J., Barker, J. B., Woodcock, C., Harwood, C. G., & McFadyen, K. (2018). The development and initial validation of the irrational performance beliefs inventory (iPBI). European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 34, 174-180. https://doi.org/10.1027/1015-5759/a000314.

Slater, M. J., Evans, A. L., & Turner, M. J. (2016). Implementing a social identity approach for effective change management. Journal of Change Management. 16(1), 18-37. doi:10.1080/14697017.2015.1103774

Turner, M. J., Slater, M. J., & Barker, J. B. (2015). Leading and managing a “challenge” culture. International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching, 10(2+3), 275-279

Barker, J. B., & Slater, M. J. (2015). It’s not just cricket. The Psychologist. July 2015

Slater, M. J., Barker, J. B., Coffee, P., & Jones, M. V. (2015). Leading for Gold: Social identity leadership processes at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise, and Health, 7(2), 192-209. doi:10.1080/2159676X.2014.936030.

Turner, M. J., Slater, M. J., & Barker, J. B. (2014). The longitudinal effects of Rational-Emotive Behaviour Therapy on the irrational beliefs of professional soccer academy athletes. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 45(5), 429-451.

Fransen, K., Coffee, P., Vanbeselaere, N., Slater, M. J., De Cuyper, B., & Boen, F. (2014). The role of athlete leaders in affecting the team confidence of their teammates and coaches: The mediating role of team identification and collective efficacy. The Sport Psychologist, 28(4), 347-360. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1123/tsp.2013-0141.

Slater, M. J., Coffee, P., Barker, J. B., & Evans, A. L. (2014). Promoting shared meanings in group memberships: A social identity approach to leadership in sport. Reflective Practice: International and Multidisciplinary Perspectives, 15(5), 672-685. https://doi.org/10.1080/14623943.2014.944126.

Barker, J. B., Evans, A. L., Coffee, P., Slater, M. J., & McCarthy, P. J. (2014). Consulting on tour: A multiple-phase personal-disclosure mutual-sharing intervention and group functioning in elite youth cricket. The Sport Psychologist, 28(2), 186-197. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.2013-0042

Slater, M. J., & Jones, M. V. (2014). Will it be England United in Rio 2014? The Psychologist, 27 (7), 473

Randall, J., Slater, M. J., Stewart, A., Pugh, G., Lewis, K., & Levy, C. (2014). The effectiveness of non-surgical weight management interventions in the UK: A systematic review and meta-regression analysis. Open Journal of Medical Science, 3(3), 235-249. doi:4236/ojmp.2014.33025.

Turner, M. J., Slater, M. J., & Barker, J. B. (2014). Not the end of the world: The effects of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy on the irrational beliefs of elite academy athletes. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 26(2) 144-156. doi: 10.1080/10413200.2013.812159.

Slater, M. J., Evans, A. L., & Barker, J. B. (2013). Using social identities to motivate athletes towards peak performance at the London 2012 Olympic Games: Reflecting for Rio 2016. Reflective Practice: International and Multidisciplinary Perspectives, 14 (5), 672-679. doi: 10.1080/14623943.2013.835725.

Evans, A., Slater, M. J., Turner, M. J., & Barker, J. B. (2013). Using personal-disclosure mutual-sharing (PDMS) to enhance group functioning in a professional soccer academy. The Sport Psychologist, 27(3), 233-243. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.2013-0042.

Turner, M. J., Jones, M. V., Sheffield, D., Slater, M. J., & Barker, J. B. (2013). "Who thrives under pressure?” Predicting the performance of elite academy cricketers using the cardiovascular indicators of challenge and threat states. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 35, 387-397. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.35.4.387.

Way, A., Jones, M. V., & Slater, M. J. (2012). Three layer model of elite male school-age athlete training adherence. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 4, 154―171. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2011.653496.

Slater, M. J., Spray, C. M., & Smith, B. M. (2012). “You’re only as good as your weakest link”: Implicit theories of golf ability. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 13, 280―290. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2011.11.010.

Book:

Slater, M. J. (2019). Togetherness: How to build a winning team. Bennion Kearny Limited.

Book chapters:

Fransen, K., Slater, M. J., & Barker, J. B. (2020). Social identity, team, and leadership, in D Hackfort and R. Schinke (Eds.), The Routledge International Encyclopaedia of Sport and Exercise Psychology. Routledge.

Barker, J. B., Fransen, K., White, C., Slater, M. J., & Martens, N. (2020). Identity development in teams, in S. A. Haslam, K. Fransen, and F. Boen (Eds.), The new psychology of sport and exercise psychology: The social identity approach. Sage.

Slater, M. J., Thomas, W., & Evans, A. L. (2020). Teamwork and group performance in S. A. Haslam, K. Fransen, and F. Boen (Eds.), The new psychology of sport and exercise: The social identity approach. Sage.

Slater, M. J., Steffens, N. K., Fransen, K., & Haslam, S. A. (2020). Developing effective on- and off-field leadership in elite soccer: The social identity approach in J. Dixon, I. Mitchell, J. B. Barker, and R. Thelwell (Eds.), The psychology of soccer. Routledge.

Ahmed, O. H., Slater, M. J., Barker, J. B., & Blake, T. (2019). Concussion in athletes with a disability in G. Bloom and J. Caron (Eds.), Psychological aspects of sport-related concussions. Routledge.

Slater, M. J., Barker, J. B., & Mellalieu, S. D. (2016). “We are in this together”: A social identity perspective on change and conflict management in C. R. D. Wagstaff (Ed.), The organizational psychology of sport: Key issues and practical applications. Routledge.

Evans, A. L., Slater, M. J., Coffee, P., & Barker, J. B. (2016). “Pulling the group together”: The role of the social identity approach in R. Thelwell, C. G. Harwood, and I. Greenlees, (Eds.), The psychology of sports coaching: Research and practice. UK: Routledge.

Slater, M. J. (2015). Identification with sports teams in M. Dodds, and J. T. Reese, (Eds.), Sports leadership: A reference guide. USA: Mission Bell Media

Slater, M. J., (2013). Developing emotional control in S. Cotterill and J. B. Barker, The psychology of cricket: Developing mental toughness. UK: Bennion Kearny Limited