Dr Robin Jackson

Robin is a Senior Lecturer in Sport Psychology, a BPS Chartered Psychologist, and HCPC registered practitioner. He joined Loughborough University in January 2016 having previously held posts at Brunel University (2001-2004; 2008-2016), the University of Hong Kong (2004-2008) and the University of Glamorgan (1996-2000). Robin is a founder member of the BPS Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology (DSEP) and the Expertise and Skill Acquisition Network (ESAN). His research on sport expertise focuses on attentional theories of skill failure under pressure (‘choking’) and on the perceptual-cognitive processes underlying anticipation skill. As a practitioner, Robin worked as psychologist and performance analyst with Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby for several years from its inception as a full medal Paralympic sport through two Paralympic Games, three European Championships and two World Championships.

Robin’s research focuses on: (1) perceptual-cognitive expertise – anticipation skill and susceptibility to deception, and (2) attentional processes underlying skill failure. His research on anticipation skill aims to identify the nature of information to which experts are attuned, how this is processed, and the implications for perceiving deceptive motion. The intention of this research is to better understand the complex and dynamic relationship between a performer’s explicit knowledge (e.g., of situational probabilities) and their perceptual judgements. Robin’s research on ‘choking’ focuses on reinvestment and attention control theories, extending predictions of the former to decision making and perceptual judgement tasks. Robin’s research has been supported by the ESRC / Hong Kong Research Grants Council; Sport Scotland Institute of Sport; the Lawn Tennis Association; England & Wales Cricket Board; and The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.