portrait of joseph baker

Joseph Baker, Professor, Sport Science

  • Professor, Sport Science
  • Tanenbaum Chair in Sport Science, Data Modelling and Sports Analytics

About Joseph

Academic Training

PhD, Applied Exercise Science, Queens University, 2003

Research Interests

Human skill acquisition 

Sport performance 

Visual perception

Talent identification and development 

Expertise and expert performance

Aging

Masters athletes

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Selected Publications

Baker, J. & Johnston, K. (2024). An evolutionary psychology perspective on athletic development and performance:  Differences between proximate and ultimate explanations. Sports Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-024-02155-5 

McAuley, A., Doncaster, G., Johnston, K., Baker, J., & Kelly, A. (2024). Selection and re-selection throughout a national talent pathway: Exploring longitudinal relative age effects in Northern Ireland male soccer. High Ability Studies. https://doi.org/10.1080/13598139.2024.2404410 

Grainger, A., Kelly, A., Garland, S.W., Baker, J., Johnston, K., & McAuley, A. (2024). Athletes’, ‘Talents’, and ‘Players’: Conceptual distinctions and considerations for researchers and practitioners. Sports Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-024-02101-5 

Johnston, K. & Baker, J. (2024). Take Your Pick! Examining decision-making behaviour in athlete selection: A methodological description and pilot study. Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/spy0000348 

Mazhar, A., Patelia, S., & Baker, J. (2024). Perceived benefits of curling in older Canadian women. Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbae041 

Baker, J., Johnston, K., & Till, K. (2024). Is it time to retire ‘talent’ from discussions of athlete development? High Ability Studies, 35 (1), 93-105. https://doi.org/10.1080/13598139.2023.2295320