Research interests
- Physical activity and health
- Health Psychology
- Physical activity interventions
- The role of habit and automaticity in decision making
- Behavioural measurement
Profile
Shemane Murtagh is a Research Officer (0.4 FTE) within the School of Health Professions and is currently working on a project funded by Physio First using a standardised data collection tool to gather data concerning the effectiveness of physiotherapy practice. Shemane is also employed as a Research Fellow (0.4 FTE) at London South Bank University where she is researching student retention and attainment.
Shemane studied for a PhD from University of Strathclyde in 2009-2012 (currently awaiting the viva). She obtained a MSc in Sports Management from University of Stirling in 2007 and a First class BSc (Hons) from the University of Brighton in 2006.
Research
Shemane's research interest is in the area of physical activity and health. Theoretical models generally assume reasoned processes underlie intention and behaviour. However, researchers have demonstrated that behaviour can indeed be predicted by both reasoned and habitual processes. Her research has focused on understating the interplay between reasoned and automatic processes such as habit in the context of children’s active school travel. An important part of this research has included examining the conceptualisation of habit and addressing the measurement issues that surround habit. Additional areas of interest include the measurement of physical activity cognition and behaviour, theoretical approaches to behaviour change and understanding the benefits of physical activity. Her research has employed various methodologies including qualitative and quantitative approaches and experimental interventions.
Additional roles
Journal reviewing:
- International Journal of Exercise Psychology
Consultancy
Rowe, D. A., and Murtagh, S. (2012). Physical Activity Participation in Fife Schoolchildren: Research report of current levels, modes, contexts, preferences and determinants. A report commissioned and written for the Active Fife Team, Fife Council
Peer-reviewed publications
Murtagh, S., Rowe, D. A., McMinn, D., Elliot, M., and Nelson, N. M. (2012). Predicting active travel in school children: The role of planned behavior and habit strength. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. doi:10.1186/1479-5868-9-65
McMinn, D., Rowe, D. A., Murtagh, S. and Nelson, N. M. (2012). 'The effect of a school-based active commuting intervention on children's commuting physical activity and daily physical activity'. Preventive Medicine. DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2012.02.013
McMinn, D., Rowe, D. A., Murtagh, S. and Nelson, N. M. (2011). 'The Strathclyde Evaluation of Children's Active Travel (SE-CAT): Study rationale and methods'. BMC Public Health, 11, 958. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-11-958
McMinn, D., Nelson, N. M., Murtagh, S. and Rowe, D. A. (2010). 'Perceived Barriers To Walking To School Among Parents Of 8-9 Year Old Children'. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 42, 5, 520-520.DOI: 10.1249/01.MSS.0000385272.35445.3b
Conference presentations
2012
Murtagh, S., Ridley, A. M., Frings, D., and Kerr Pertiĉ, S. (2012, August). The ‘Student Success’ research project: ‘Understanding the student profile’. Presented at the Moving forward: Student Success conference, London, England.
Murtagh, S., Rowe, D. A., McMinn, D., and Nelson, N. M. (2012, August). Medium and long-term effects of a classroom-based intervention on children’s intentions and habits of active school travel. Presented at International Congress on Behavioral Medicine, Budapest, Hungary.
Rowe, D. A., Murtagh, S., Nelson, N. M., McMinn, D., McParland, L., Broadhurst, E., and Fenna, J. (2012, July).The FifeActive study: Informing children’s physical activity provision at the regional level via online survey methods. Presented at the International Convention on Science, Education and Medicine in Sport, Glasgow. Scotland.
Murtagh, S., Rowe, D. A., Kang, M., and Barreria, T. V. (2012, March). Missing data replacement in children and adolescents physical activity data. Presented at the Measurement Symposium, Boston, MA, USA.
Murtagh, S., Rowe, D. A., Nelson, N. M., and McMinn, D. (2012, March). Predicting Physical Activity Intentions and Behavior in Children and Adolescents. Presented at the American Alliance for Health Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, International Conference, Boston, MA, USA.
2011
Murtagh, S., and Rowe, D. A. (2011, Dec). Gender patterns in psychological antecedents of physical activity. Presented at the UK Behavioural Medicine Conference, Stirling, Scotland.
Murtagh, S., Rowe, D. A., McMinn, D. and Nelson, N. M. (2011, Oct). Reliability and validity of a Theory of Planned Behavior questionnaire to assess travel cognitions in primary school aged children. Presented at the International e-Conference in Kinesiology.
Murtagh, S., McMinn, D., Nelson, N. M., and Rowe, D. A. (2011, June). Active travel in school children: The role of habit strength in the Theory of Planned Behavior. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, Denver, CO, USA.
McMinn, D., Murtagh, S., Nelson, N. M., and Rowe, D. A. (2011, June). Effect of a school based active commuting intervention on children’s objectively measured walking to school. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, Denver, CO., USA.
McMinn, D., Murtagh, S., Nelson, N. M., and Rowe, D. A. (2011, May). The Travelling Green Study: Treatment of missing and outlying data. Presented at International Congress of Ambulatory Monitoring of Physical Activity and Movement, Glasgow, Scotland.
Rowe, D.A., McMinn, D., Murtagh, S., and Nelson, N. M. (2011, May). Daily variability in active commuting behaviours in primary school children. Presented at the International Congress of Ambulatory Monitoring of Physical Activity and Movement, Glasgow, Scotland.
Murtagh, S., Rowe, D. A. McMinn, D., and Nelson, N. M. (2011, May). Effectiveness of a school-based intervention at improving the psychological antecedents of children’s active travel. Presented at the British Psychological Society Annual Conference, Glasgow, Scotland.
Rowe, D.A., Nelson, N. M., Murtagh, S., McMinn, D., McParland, L., Broadhurst, E., and Fenna, J. (2011, May). The Fife Active Study: Rationale and methods. Presented at the ICAMPAM Congress, Glasgow, Scotland.
Rowe, D.A., McMinn, D., Murtagh, S., and Nelson, N. M. (2011, May). Daily variability in active commuting behaviours in primary school children. Presented at the International Congress of Ambulatory Monitoring of Physical Activity and Movement, Glasgow, Scotland.
McMinn, D., Rowe, D. A., Murtagh, S., and Nelson, N. M. (2011, May). The Travelling Green Study: Treatment of missing and outlying data. Presented at the International Congress of Ambulatory Monitoring of Physical Activity and Movement, Glasgow, Scotland.
2010
Murtagh, S., Rowe, D. A., McMinn, D., and Nelson, N. M. (2010, September). Reliability and validity of a measure of active and inactive travel habit in primary school aged children. Presented at the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences Annual Conference, Glasgow.
Murtagh, S., Nelson, N. M., McMinn, D., and Rowe, D. A. (2010, June). Reliability and validity of a measure of active travel habit in primary school aged children. Presented at the Scottish Physical Activity Research Conference for PhD Students, Glasgow, Scotland.
McMinn, D., Nelson, N. M., Murtagh, S., and Rowe, D. A. (2010, June). Perceived barriers to walking to school among parents of 8-10 year old children. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
McMinn, D., Nelson, N. M., Murtagh, S., and Rowe, D. A. (2010, June). Effect of Travelling Green on children’s active commuting to school: Methods and rationale. Presented at the Scottish Physical Activity Research Conference for PhD Students, Glasgow, Scotland.
Rowe, D. A., Murtagh, S., McMinn, D., Ord, K. L., and Nelson, N. M. (2010, June). Reliability and validity for measures of children’s self-efficacy for walking to school. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
