Journal of Adventure Education & Outdoor Learning

Outdoor coaching is a practice growing in popularity among outdoor practitioners and professional coaches, yet research into these experiences in nature remains limited. This study explores how practitioners make sense of using outdoor environments as a space for client learning. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), 14 ‘professional credentialed coaches’ were interviewed to explo…

Schoolyards play a crucial role in children's physical and cognitive development, as well as in fostering social interaction and overall well-being. This systematic review synthesises empirical studies, published between 2004 and 2024, examining the impact of schoolyard design on the physical activity and play preferences of children between the ages of 5 and 12 through a gender-sensitive le…

This paper focuses on the novice-expert divide in cave leaders, comparing professional judgment and decision-making (PJDM) through Applied Cognitive Task Analysis (ACTA) methods. Novice leaders (n=4) were purposively sampled and undertook the three stages of the ACTA protocol. A Cognitive Demands Table was produced and the collected data were compared to our previous study of high-level instructo…

Effective decision-making (DM) is critical for operation within complex environments, such as those found in adventure sports (AS). Previously, much attention has been given to the nature and development of DM in adventure sports’ coaches (ASCs). Despite this, little focus has been given to assessing DM competence. This unique study utilises Applied Cognitive Task Analysis via single interview to…