May 3, 2013
National association recognizes Brandon Irwin
Submitted by Communications and Marketing
Brandon Irwin, assistant professor of kinesiology, was recently presented with the National Association for Sport and Physical Education's Sport and Exercise Psychology Dissertation Award. The national honor is given in recognition of student research that has the greatest potential for making a significant contribution to knowledge base in sport psychology.
Irwin completed his doctoral dissertation last year, titled "Increasing Physical Activity in Free-Living Conditions: An Examination of the Kohler Motivation Gain Effect." He investigated if having a virtual partner while playing exergames motivated individuals to participate in physical activity using an experimental field design and a sampling of college students.
Irwin found that having a physical activity partner who is more capable and who strongly depends on the performance of other group members can motivate the weak link of the group to maintain their physical activity during challenging times.
According to the National Association for Sport and Physical Education, Irwin's research is significant because it helps shed light on how digital technology both affects and promotes physical activity.
Irwin received his doctoral degree in kinesiology from Michigan State University.