Dr Ian Boardley HNC, BSc, PhD, PGCert

Dr Ian Boardley

School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences
Head of Impact & Engagement
Reader in Sport and Exercise Psychology
Chair of Health and Safety Committee, College of Life and Environmental Sciences

Contact details

Telephone
+44 (0)121 415 8399
Email
i.d.boardley@bham.ac.uk
View my research portal
Address
School of Sport, Exercise, and Rehabilitation Sciences
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

Dr Boardley is internationally known for his expertise on the psychosocial processes governing moral behaviour in physical activity contexts. This work includes moral behaviours that occur on the sports field (e.g., prosocial and antisocial behaviour), as well as those that occur in sport, exercise, and dance (use of supplements and image and performance enhancing drugs). Ian’s research has been supported by funding from the World Anti-Doping Agency, the International Olympic Committee, the European Union, and the Economic and Social Research Council. Ian has further research interests in coaching efficacy, social identity, and how athletes' perceptions of their coach influence athletes’ cognitions, emotions, and behaviour.

Qualifications

  • Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice, 2013, University of Brimingham
  • PhD in Sport Psychology, 2008, University of Birmingham 
  • BSc (Hons) in Sport Science (1st Class), 2005, University of Leeds
  • HNC Chemistry

Biography

After obtaining a BSc (Hons) in Sport Science (1st class) at the University of Leeds in 2005, Dr. Boardley continued his studies at the University of Birmingham where he obtained a PhD in Sport Psychology. On completing his PhD in 2008, he immediately secured a post at the University of Birmingham as a Lecturer in Sport Psychology and Education, was subsequently promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2016 before being promoted to Reader in 2020.

Teaching

Ian leads the Interdisciplinary Research and Impact module on the MSci programme, as well as teaching on the undergraduate Moral Behaviour and Doping in Sport and Mental Health in Sport modules. He also supervises students on the Year 3 Project module.

Postgraduate supervision

Ian Boardley’s research investigates personal and social factors influencing moral behaviour in sport and exercise. His work investigates antecedents of on-field behaviours such as helping (i.e., prosocial) and injuring (i.e., antisocial) other players, as well as off-field behaviours, with a particular focus on the use of performance enhancing drugs in sport (i.e., doping) and exercise (i.e., anabolic steroid use). His work in the field of doping has been supported by funding from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), International Olympic Committee (IOC), European Union (EU), and Economic and Social Research Council (ESCRC). His research interests also include examining factors influencing coaching efficacy and social identity and their influences on athlete behaviour and motivation. 

Dr Boardley currently supervises eight doctoral researchers and welcomes applications from potential students in his areas of research interest.

Doctoral research

PhD title
Moral Disengagement in Sport

Research

Ian's work focusses on furthering understanding on the psychosocial processes governing moral behavior in sport and exercise, with a predominant focus on the processes that underpin use of performance enhancing substances. Dr. Boardley is internationally recognized for his work introducing the construct of moral disengagement to the field of sport and exercise psychology. A fairly unique aspect of his research is the use of both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, dependent on the specific research question/s being addressed.

Other activities

  • Associate Editor for the Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology (2013 – present)
  • Member of the steering committee for the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences Clean Sport Special Interest Group (2015 – present)
  • Founder member of the Clean Sport Alliance (2016 – present)
  • Member of UKAD’s Innovation Commission

Publications

Recent publications

Article

Petróczi, A & Boardley, ID 2022, 'The Meaning of “Clean” in Anti-doping Education and Decision Making: Moving Toward Integrity and Conceptual Clarity', Frontiers in sports and active living, vol. 4, 869704. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2022.869704

Brennan, R, Wazaify, M, Shawabkeh, H, Boardley, I, McVeigh, J & Van Hout, MC 2021, 'A scoping review of non-medical and extra-medical use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)', Drug Safety, vol. 44, pp. 917-928. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40264-021-01085-9

Boardley, I, Chandler, M, Backhouse, SH & Petróczi, A 2021, 'Co-creating a social science research agenda for clean sport: an international Delphi study', International Journal of Drug Policy, vol. 92, 103161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103161

Sutcliffe, JT, Herbison, JD, Martin, LJ, McLaren, CD, Slatcher, R, Benson, AJ, Woezik, RV, Boardley, ID, Carré, JM, Côté, J & Bruner, MW 2021, 'Exploring parent-athlete sport related communication outside of the sport environment with the Electronically Activated Recorder', Psychology of Sport and Exercise, vol. 54, 101919. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2021.101919

McLaren, CD, Boardley, ID, Benson, AJ, Martin, LJ, Fransen, K, Herbison, JD, Slatcher, RB, Carré, JM, Côté, J & Bruner, MW 2021, 'Follow the leader: identity leadership and moral behaviour in social situations among youth sport teammates', Psychology of Sport and Exercise, vol. 55, 101940. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2021.101940

McVeigh, J, Hearn, E, Boardley, I, Bates, G, Hope, V, Ralphs, R & Van Hout, MC 2021, 'Generating evidence on the use of Image and performance enhancing drugs in the UK: Results from a scoping review and expert consultation by the Anabolic Steroid UK network', Harm Reduction Journal, vol. 18, no. 107. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-021-00550-z

Ven, KVD, Boardley, I & Chandler, M 2021, 'Identifying best-practice amongst health professionals who work with people using image and performance enhancing drugs (IPEDs) through participatory action research', Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2021.1898457

Sumnall, HR, Montgomery, C, Atkinson, AM, Gage, SH & Boardley, ID 2021, 'Moral disengagement and the harms of cocaine use', Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687637.2021.1950126

Goodyear, V, Boardley, I, Chiou, S-Y, Fenton, S, Makopoulou, K, Stathi, A, Wallis, G, Veldhuijzen van Zanten, J & Thompson, J 2021, 'Social media use informing behaviours related to physical activity, diet and quality of life during COVID-19: a mixed methods study', BMC Public Health, vol. 21, no. 1, 1333 . https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11398-0

Liang, X, Chen, S, Liu, D, Boardley, I & Shen, L 2021, 'Strategic thinking and planning behind the development of a sporting event portfolio: the case of Shanghai', Sport Management Review. https://doi.org/10.1080/14413523.2021.1975402

Zoob Carter, BN, Boardley, ID & van de Ven, K 2021, 'The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Male Strength Athletes Who Use Non-prescribed Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids', Frontiers in Psychiatry, vol. 12, 636706. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.636706

The RESPECT Consortium 2021, 'Understanding and building clean(er) sport together: community-based participatory research with elite athletes and anti-doping organisations from five European countries', Psychology of Sport and Exercise, vol. 55, 101932. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2021.101932

Boardley, I, Matosic, D & Bruner, MW 2020, 'A Longitudinal Examination of the Relations between Moral Disengagement and Antisocial Behavior in Sport', Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. <http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/%28ISSN%291098-2337>

Chapter (peer-reviewed)

Kavussanu, M, Boardley, I & Stanger, N 2022, Antecedents and consequences of moral behavior in sport. in L Davis, S Jowett & R Keegan (eds), Social Psychology in Sport (2nd edition). Human Kinetics.

Working paper

Goodyear, V, Boardley, I, Chiou, S-Y, Fenton, S, Makopoulou, K, Stathi, A, Wallis, G, Veldhuijzen van Zanten, J, Wood, G & Thompson, J 2021 'Guidelines for using social media to inform behaviours related to physical activity, diet and quality of life' University of Birmingham. https://doi.org/10.25500/epapers.bham.00003431

View all publications in research portal

Expertise

Sport psychology; prosocial and antisocial behaviours in sport; issues surrounding coach confidence and effectiveness; doping in sport and exercise

Alternative contact number available for this expert: contact the press office

Expertise

Sport psychology; prosocial and antisocial behaviours in sport; issues surrounding coach confidence and effectiveness; doping in sport and exercise

Alternative contact number available for this expert: contact the press office