Dr Nicola McCullogh

Assistant Professor

School: Sport Exercise and Rehabilitation

After completing an undergraduate degree in Applied Psychology at Durham University, Nicola initially worked in administration in a mental health setting and then spent four years as an A-Level Psychology teacher. Following a growing involvement in the sport of archery as a coach and volunteer on a national project into participation levels, she brought together her interests in psychology and physical activity through study at Northumbria University: first by completing the MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology programme, and then by undertaking her PhD into the role of physical activity in primary school education. She is now an Assistant Professor in sport and exercise psychology, with research interests in higher education pedagogy and school-based physical activity, as well qualitative research in the field of sport and exercise more generally.

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Research Themes and Scholarly Interests

Nicola has conducted research into the outcomes of physical activity participation for primary school children, particularly in relation to their cognition and wellbeing, and using both qualitative and quantitative approaches. She is interested in how physical activity can be integrated in practical and sustainable ways into people’s lives, accounting for barriers and competing priorities. She has also explored via a series of collaborative research projects a range of issues related to teaching and learning in higher education, including online delivery and student belonging.

Key Publications

Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
Embedding multidisciplinary learning into sport and exercise science degree provision, Peart, D., Thornton, C., Macpherson, T., McCullogh, N., Allen, J., Hayman, R., Rumbold, P. 9 Jun 2026, In: Cogent Education
Game on, grades up? Effects of a teacher- and pupil-informed physical activity break on executive function and behaviour in children, Dixon, S., Hettinga, F., McCullogh, N., Tempest, G. 16 Feb 2026, In: Journal of Sports Sciences
Advancing active travel through collaboration conference, McCullogh, N., Innerd, A., Connor, N., Archer, D., Dodd-Reynolds, C., Hayes, L., Lloyd, S. 27 Oct 2025, In: Journal of Transport & Health
A qualitative analysis of perceived barriers and motivators to physical activity in children from ethnic minority groups and white British children, Omojor-Oche, J., Tempest, G., Hettinga, F., McCullogh, N. 27 May 2025, In: PLoS One
Hydration, mood, and cognition in primary school aged children in the United Kingdom, Roberts, C., Boak, K., McCullogh, N., Brownlee, I., Haskell, C., James, L., Green, B., Tempest, G., Bruce-Martin, C., Rumbold, P. 1 Dec 2025, In: Physiology and Behavior
Identifying gender gaps on sports degrees: a retrospective case study, Bradburn, R., Quinn, E., Avner, Z., McCullogh, N., Hayman, R., Johns, K., Cook, P., Peart, D., Ansdell, P. 1 Nov 2025, In: Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism Education
The impact of an acute bout of physical activity on executive function and academic achievement in preadolescent children: A systematic review and meta-analysis, Dixon, S., Tempest, G., Hettinga, F., Khudair, M., McCullogh, N. 2025, In: Mental Health and Physical Activity
University course choice: Views and experiences of undergraduate sport and physiotherapy students from a United Kingdom higher education institution, Hibbs, A., Thornton, C., Hayes, P., Johns, K., Bruce-Martin, C., McCullogh, N., Peart, D., Baker, K., Rumbold, P. 27 Nov 2025, In: Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism Education
Trialling ‘relatedness nudges’ to support student engagement, McCullogh, N., Goodall, A., Goodall, S. 16 Oct 2024, Handbook of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Sport, National Teaching Repository

PGR Supervision

John Fleetwood Supporting the supporters: Examining how to assist parents as they support their child’s participation in sport. Start Date: 01/10/2024
Sam Dixon Moving, Thinking, Learning? An Investigation into the Cognitive and Academic Impacts of Acute School-based Physical Activity in Children. Start Date: 01/10/2021 End Date: 01/06/2026

Qualifications

Education PCAP March 03 2021
PhD September 16 2019
Psychology MSc November 03 2014
Psychology BSc (Hons) June 28 2007
Senior Fellow (SFHEA) Advance HE 2023
Member British Psychological Society (BPS) Division of Sport & Exercise Psychology 2017