Better decisions start with better evidence.
We help organisations understand performance through research, evaluation and evidence.
From answering specific research questions to evaluating programmes and translating existing evidence into practice, we combine scientific rigour with an understanding of real performance environments.
THE CHALLENGE
Evidence is only useful when it helps us understand what to do next.
Organisations collect more information than ever:
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Research.
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Surveys.
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Performance data.
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Feedback.
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Evaluations.
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Academic literature.
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However, having information and knowing what to do with it are very different things.
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Sometimes the evidence does not exist.
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Sometimes it exists but is difficult to interpret.
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Sometimes an intervention has been delivered, but nobody really knows whether it worked.
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Sometimes valuable research remains disconnected from the people who could actually use it.
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We help bridge the gap between questions, evidence and practice.
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Our aim is to help organisations ask better questions, generate meaningful evidence and use what they learn to make better decisions.
How We Help
From questions to evidence. From evidence to action.
PROGRAMME EVALUATION
Understand what is working, what isn’t and why.
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Delivering a programme is only part of the process. Evaluation helps us understand what happened and what can happen next.
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We can evaluate programmes, interventions and development initiatives using quantitative, qualitative or mixed-method approaches depending on the question and context.
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EVIDENCE REVIEWS
Understand what we already know before deciding what to do next.
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When research already exists, the challenge is often making sense of it.
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We review and synthesise existing evidence to help organisations understand what research currently tells us, where uncertainty remains and what that means for practice.
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RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS
Build evidence over time.
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Some questions cannot be answered through a single project.
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We can work alongside organisations as an ongoing research and evaluation partner, helping identify questions, design studies, evaluate initiatives and build a stronger evidence base over time.
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WHAT WE CAN EXPLORE
Research built around real performance questions.
Our research expertise can be applied across a range of questions relating to human performance and development.
PERFORMANCE
Understanding the psychological and environmental factors associated with effective performance.
PRESSURE & STRESS
Exploring how people experience and respond to demanding performance environments.
LEADERSHIP
Understanding how leadership behaviours and environments influence individuals and teams.
COACHING
Exploring coaching behaviour, learning environments and athlete development.
DECISION MAKING
​Understanding how people process information and make decisions under different conditions.
WELLBEING & PERFORMANCE
Exploring the relationship between how people experience their environment and how they function within it.
LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT
Understanding how people develop skills, knowledge and expertise.
PERFORMANCE ENVIRONMENTS
Examining how people, systems, relationships, culture and expectations interact to influence performance.
OUR APPROACH
Rigorous enough for research. Useful enough for practice.
Good applied research needs both methodological quality and an understanding of the environment in which the findings will be used.
QUESTION-LED
We begin with what you actually need to understand rather than selecting a method first.
EVIDENCE-LED
Our work is grounded in established research methods, psychological science and appropriate analytical approaches.
CONTEXT-SPECIFIC
Research is designed around the population, organisation and environment being studied.
COLLABORATIVE
We work with stakeholders throughout the process to understand the problem and ensure the research addresses meaningful questions.
PRACTICAL
Findings should help people understand something they did not understand before and inform what they might do next.
RESEARCH METHODS
The method follows the question.
Quantitative Research
Surveys, questionnaires, performance data and statistical analysis.
Qualitative Research
Interviews, focus groups, observation and thematic analysis.
Mixed Methods
Combining quantitative and qualitative evidence to develop a richer understanding of the question.
Programme Evaluation
Process and outcome evaluation designed to understand implementation, experience and impact.
Applied Observation
Understanding behaviours and environments within the contexts where performance actually happens.
Evidence Synthesis
Structured reviews and synthesis of existing research and evidence.
KNOWLEDGE TRANSLATION
Research doesn't end with a report.
Producing evidence is only one part of the process.
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For research to create meaningful impact, findings need to reach the people who can use them and be communicated in ways that make sense within their environment.
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We therefore consider not only how research is conducted, but how its findings can be translated into practice.
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Depending on the project, this might include:
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Research Report
Clear documentation of methods, findings and conclusions.
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Executive Briefing
The most important findings and implications for decision makers.
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Practical Recommendations
Evidence translated into potential actions and priorities.
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Workshops & Presentations
Bringing findings directly to leaders, coaches, practitioners or teams.
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Educational Resources
Turning research into accessible tools and learning materials.
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Future Research Priorities
Identifying unanswered questions and opportunities to strengthen the evidence base.
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The goal is not simply to generate evidence. It is to make evidence useful.
WHO WE WORK WITH
Research across performance environments.
SPORTING ORGANISATIONS & GOVERNING BODIES
Research, evidence reviews, programme evaluation and knowledge translation.
BUSINESSES & ORGANISATIONS
Performance, leadership, culture, behaviour and programme evaluation.
UNIVERSITIES & RESEARCHERS
Applied research collaboration, knowledge exchange and translation.
EDUCATION & TRAINING PROVIDERS
Programme evaluation, learning research and evidence-informed development.
PERFORMANCE PROGRAMMES
Understanding athletes, coaches, systems and performance environments.
POLICY & PROFESSIONAL ORGANISATIONS
Evidence reviews, applied research and research translation.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Research informed by practice. Practice informed by research.
Seabury Performance is led by Chartered Psychologist and researcher Dr Tom Seabury.
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With a PhD in Psychology and experience across academic research, applied performance environments and organisational research, Tom's work has included quantitative research, psychophysiology, performance psychology, employee research, evidence synthesis and interdisciplinary research.
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Alongside peer-reviewed academic research, our experience includes research designed to answer practical questions for sporting organisations, businesses and other professional environments.
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This combination allows us to work across the boundary between academic research and applied practice.
HOW WE WORK
From question to impact.
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​DEFINE
Clarify the question, context and what the organisation ultimately needs to understand.
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INVESTIGATE
Select appropriate methods and gather the evidence required to answer the question.
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UNDERSTAND
Analyse and interpret the evidence within the context in which it was collected.
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TRANSLATE
Communicate what we have learned and what this means for future practice, policy or research.
What are you trying to understand?
You don’t need to arrive with a research design or methodology.
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Tell us the question, challenge or programme you want to understand and we can explore the most appropriate way to investigate it.