Dr. Katie Gunnell
Affiliate Investigator

Education, Credentials, Academic Appointments

  • Post-Doctoral Fellowship, School of Psychology and Human Kinetics, the University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada (2014)
  • PhD, School of Kinesiology, sub-specialization in Measurement, Evaluation, and Research Methodology, the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada (2013)
  • MA, Applied Health Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines Ontario, Canada (2009)
  • BKIN, Department of Physical Education and Kinesiology, Brock University, St. Catharines Ontario, Canada (2007)
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa
  • Junior Research Scientist, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute
  • Scientist, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute

Biography

Dr. Gunnell is a Junior Research Scientist with HALO at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute and an Adjunct Professor in the School of Human Kinetics at the University of Ottawa. Dr. Gunnell joined HALO in September of 2014. In addition to holding a PhD in Kinesiology with a specialization in Exercise Psychology, Dr. Gunnell also holds a sub-specialization in Measurement, Evaluation, and Research Methodology. Her Masters, PhD, and post-doctoral research were funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).

Research, Clinical, Professional and Scholarly Focus and Service

Dr. Gunnell’s research focuses on three broad streams. First, she is interested in understanding the factors that lead to greater psychological well-being and physical activity participation as well as less screen time and ill-being. In this line of research, she examines the role of goals, different sources of physical activity or screen time motivation, and experiences of competence, autonomy, and relatedness as predictors of psychological and behavioural outcomes. In a second line of research, she examines measurement properties of instruments used to assess psychological variables related to physical activity and screen time. Finally, Dr. Gunnell is interested in longitudinal research (examining factors over time) and interventions aimed at increasing physical activity and well-being as well as reducing screen time and ill-being.

  • Associate Editor for International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology
  • Reviewer for many scholarly journals including the Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, Psychology of Sport and Exercise, Sport Exercise and Performance Psychology
  • Guest Lecturer at the University of Ottawa
  • Member, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute Joint Health and Safety Committee

Graduate Students, Supervision and Training

  • Vedrana Sember, PhD student, University of Primorska. Thesis Committee Member

Memberships

  • The Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology (SCAPPS)
  • North American Society for Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA)
  • European Congress of Sport Psychology
  • Sedentary Behaviour Research Network