Kevin A. Becker, Ph.D., CSCS

Contact

kbecker1@twu.edu
940-898-2592
PH 208D

View CV

Biography

Kevin Becker, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the School of Health Promotion and Kinesiology at Texas Woman's University. His primary areas of expertise are in motor behavior and sport psychology. His research examines factors that either promote or inhibit motor learning and performance. Most recently, this has included investigations related to attentional focus, stress, and augmented feedback. Dr. Becker maintains active research collaborations with other faculty in the College of Health Sciences as well as faculty at other universities.

Education

Ph.D., Kinesiology and Sport Studies: Sport Psychology and Motor Behavior, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
M.S., Kinesiology: Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity, Illinois State University, Normal, IL
B.S., Exercise Science-Teaching; School Health Education, University of Wisconsin- La Crosse, La Crosse, WI

Expertise

Motor Learning; Motor Performance; Attentional Focus; Cognitive and Physical Stressors; Sport Psychology

Latest Articles

Perceived effort for reaching is associated with self-reported fatigue
Journal of Motor Behavior (2021)
Hui-Ting Goh, Jill Stewart, Kevin Becker, Cheng-Ju Hung

Both a holistic and external focus of attention enhance the learning of a badminton short serve
Psychological Research / Psychologische Forschung (2021)
Rasool Abedanzadeh, Kevin A Becker, Seyyed M.R. Mousavi

Association between the On-Plane Angular Motions of the Axle-Chain System and Clubhead Speed in Skilled Male Golfers
Applied Sciences (2020)
Morgan V Madrid, Marco A Avalos, Nick A Levine, Noelle J Tuttle, Kevin A Becker

Accuracy and vividness in motor imagery ability: Differences between children and young adults
Developmental Neuropsychology (2020)
Chadwick T Fuchs, Kevin A Becker, Erin Austin, Priscila Tamplain

Attentional focus influences sample entropy in a balancing task
Human Movement Science (2020)
Kevin A Becker, Cheng-Ju Hung

Special Education Administrators' Knowledge of Adapted Physical Education: A Pilot Study
International Journal of Disability, Development and Education (2020)
Scott WT McNamara, Laura Trujillo-Jenks, Suzanna Dillon, Sean Healy, Kevin A Becker

The Impact of Podcasts on Special Education Administrators' Understanding of Adapted Physical Education Services
International Journal of Disability, Development and Education (2020)
Scott WT McNamara, Suzanna Dillon, Kevin A Becker, Sean Healy, Laura TrujilloJenks

The use of multiple externally directed attentional focus cues facilitates motor learning
International Journal of Sport Science and Coaching (2019)
Kevin A Becker, Jeffrey T Fairbrother

An analysis of functional outcome measures after treadmill training in older adults with Parkinson's disease
Palaestra (2019)
Brandon R Rigby, Ron W Davis, Marco A Avalos, Leah S Goudy, Kevin A Becker

Considering a holistic focus of attention as an alternative to an external focus
Journal of Motor Learning and Development (2019)
Kevin A Becker, Ayana F Georges, Chris A Aiken

The influence of attentional focus instructions on children with severe visual impairments
Perceptual and Motor Skills (2019)
Scott WT McNamara, Kevin A Becker, Will Weigel, Peter Marcy, Justin Haegele

Effects of Simulated Horseback Riding on Postural Sway, Balance, and Quality of Life in Older Adults with Parkinson's Disease
Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly (2019)
Leah S Goudy, Brandon R Rigby, Lisa M Silliman-French, Kevin A Becker

Acute cardiometabolic responses to three modes of treadmill exercise in older adults with Parkinson's disease
Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly (2018)
Brandon R Rigby, Ron W Davis, Marco A Avalos, Nick A Levine, Kevin A Becker

The effects of attentional focus in the preparation and execution of a standing long jump
Psychological Research / Psychologische Forschung (2018)
Kevin A Becker, Jeff T Fairbrother, Kaylee F Couvillion

The differential effects of attentional focus in children with moderate and profound visual impairments
Frontiers in psychology: Movement Science and Sport Psychology (2017)
Scott W McNamara, Kevin A Becker, Lisa M Silliman-French

Attentional focus effects in the performance of a standing long jump: influence of a broad or narrow internal focus
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research (2015)
Kevin A Becker, Peter J.K. Smith

Recent Presentations

The effect of attentional focus and task difficulty on movement variability in a balancing task- an uncontrolled manifold approach
North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (2021)
Paper | Cheng-Ju Hung, Kevin A Becker

The effect of attentional focus on movement variability in a balancing task- an uncontrolled manifold approach
North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (2020)
Paper | Cheng-Ju Hung, Kevin A Becker

Subjective fatigue is correlated with perceived effort and reach performance
American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting (2020)
Poster | Hui-Ting Goh, Kevin A Becker, Cheng-Ju Hung, Jill Stewart

Attentional focus influences sample entropy in a balancing task
North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (2019)
Podium | Kevin Becker, Cheng-Ju Hung

Attentional focus effects on balance for children with visual impairments
International Symposium on Adapted Physical Activity (2019)
Poster | Scott McNamara, Kevin Becker, William Weigel, Peter Marcy, Justin Haegele

An external focus of attention improves motor performance in adolescents with visual impairments
North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (2019)
Poster | Kevin Becker, Scott McNamara, Peter Marcy, Will Weigel, Justin Haegele

The effects of attentional focus shifting from preparation to execution
North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (2019)
Podium | Chris Aiken, Kevin Becker, Phil Post

Attentional focus effects in isokinetic elbow flexions
Congress of the European Society of Biomechanics (2019)
Podium | Marco Avalos, Kevin Becker

The effect of heat stress on the performance of a graphomotor choice-reaction time task
Conference of the International Graphonomics Society (2019)
Paper | Kevin Becker, Chris Aiken, Cheng-Ju Hung, Arend Van Gemmert

The impact of podcasts on special education administrators understanding of adapted physical education services
International Symposium on Adapted Physical Activity (2019)
Podium | Scott McNamara, Suzanna Dillon, Kevin Becker, Sean Healy, Laura Trujillo-Jenks

Considering the effect of process and outcome oriented attentional focus cues
Annual Meeting of the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (2018)
Poster | Kevin A Becker, Nick A Levin, Emily D Herbst

Improving the overhand throwing performance of children with Autism spectrum disorder.
North American Federation of Adapted Physical Activity (NAFAPA) Conference (2018)
Podium | David Adams, Lisa Silliman-French, Suzanna Dillon, Diane Myers, Kevin Becker

The presence of vision impacts attentional focus effects in a balancing task
Annual Meeting of the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (2018)
Podium | Kevin A Becker, Scott WT McNamara

Attentional focus effects in the performance of a trap bar deadlift
South-Central American Society of Biomechanics (2018)
Podium | Nick Levine, Emily Herbst, Kevin Becker

The effects of attentional focus in the preparation and execution of a standing long jump
North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (2017)
Podium | Kevin A Becker, Jeffrey T Fairbrother, Kaylee F Couvillion

Acute cardiovascular and metabolic responses to three modes of treadmill exercise in older adults with Parkinson's disease
Texas Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine (TACSM) Conference (2017)
Poster | N Levine, B R Rigby, R Davis, K A Becker, D Nichols

Changes in balance, gait and motor skills following treadmill exercise in adults with Parkinson's disease
Texas Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine (TACSM) Conference (2017)
Poster | M Avalos, B R Rigby, R Davis, K A Becker, D Nichols

The role of vision and attentional focus in performing a balancing task
North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (2017)
Poster | Scott T McNamara, Kevin A Becker

Self-reported attentional focus strategies of collegiate baseball and softball players
North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (2017)
Poster | April V Lane Hartmann, Kevin A Becker, Mark D Mann, David L Nichols

Attentional focus effects in children with visual impairments
North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (2017)
Podium | Scott WT McNamara, Kevin A Becker, Lisa M Silliman-French

Effects of Two Intensities of Exercise on Memory, Concentration, Planning, and Reasoning
Texas Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine (TACSM) Conference (2016)
Poster | Kristen A Codish, Kevin A Becker, Kyle D Biggerstaff

Effects of two intensities of exercise on memory, concentration, planning, and reasoning
Annual Meeting of the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (2016)
Poster | Kristen A Codish, Kevin Becker, Kyle D Biggerstaff

High ambient temperature levels do not influence motor learning
Annual Meeting of the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (2016)
Podium | Kevin A Becker, Chris A Aiken, Xochilt Rodriguez, Arend W.A. Van Gemmert

Performance on a choice-reaction time task is not affected by physical stress in the form of high ambient temperature
Annual Meeting of the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (2016)
Podium | Christopher A Aiken, Kevin A Becker, Adrian Lee, Philip G Post, Arend W.A. Van Gemmert

The effects of setting proximal and distal goals on motor learning
North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (2015)
Poster | Kevin A Becker, Jeffrey T Fairbrother, Lacey P Sollenberger, Kevin M Fisher

Attentional focus strategies selected by novice jugglers in a self-controlled learning environment
Annual Meeting of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (2015)
Poster | David Laughlin, Kevin A Becker, Arya Alami

Giving athletes a sense of control: practical strategies for improving skill learning when coaching sports
Annual Meeting of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (2015)
Faculty Workshop | Kevin Becker, David Laughlin, Jeffrey T Fairbrother

The role of corrective and confirmatory KP in learning a novel motor task
North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (2015)
Podium | Kevin A Becker, Jeffrey T Fairbrother, Andy D Bass

Professional Affiliations

• National Strength and Conditioning Association
• North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity