Three projects, two months, one eye-opening opportunity. For Manon Eluère, her overseas internship experience at CPASS this summer will offer partnerships and a new perspective in her academic studies.
A scholar from Rennes, France, Eluère, 22, is studying at the Center for Applied Coaching and Sport Sciences this summer to further her research on sport psychology and coaching education. Eluère is spending seven weeks at CPASS, between June 6 and July 22.
Eluère attends the University of Rennes 2, one of five institutions at the University of Rennes and studies within the department of sport and physical activity techniques and sciences. She has earned a bachelor's degree in physical education and sport training and is now specializing in sport and performance psychology research at ENS Rennes.
Eluère is in the United States to complete a two month research internship.
“It is one of the best places to learn about sports psychology, partly because the sports culture in America is such as huge issue,” Eluère explained.
Eluère says she chose to study at CPASS because she was inspired by the interests and research studies of faculty member Dr. Kristen Dieffenbach and wanted to collaborate with her. “I don’t regret my choice,” says Eluère, “She is awesome.”
Eluère will work on three projects with Dieffenbach during her internship.
The first project will consist of writing an article in English for one of the research studies she conducted during her school year, on attribution and reattribution training. During this study she tested a mental training intervention about how to manage failure, collaborating with eight professional sports teams in France.
The second project will consist of reading and learning about psychological characteristics and mental skills among athletes, and building a strong study protocol procedure to apply to her next visit. After her time at CPASS, Eluère will spend almost four weeks in French Polynesia to study the French Polynesia beach soccer team, also known as the Tiki Toa team.
The third project will consist of working with current PhD student, Tammy Sheehy, on an existing study in the Sport and Exercise Psychology program. The project will build a systematic literature review concerning coaches in sport psychological studies since 1970. Eluère will research how coaches versus athletes are viewed and treated in different sports.
Eluère hopes to explore new sport psychology methods and learn how to expand research methods. She wants to learn more about American culture.
“Knowing many ways to do one thing allows you to be more objective and this is an important quality to be a good researcher,” she added.