Dr Katie Fitton Davies
Sport and Exercise Sciences
Faculty of Science
Email: K.FittonDavies@ljmu.ac.uk
ORCID
Katie completed her PhD titled, "Exploring the motivational processes of young children in Physical Education" in 2021 at Liverpool John Moores University. Before completing her PhD, she worked as a Research Fellow of Physical Activity and Exercise Interventions in the Centre of Sport, Exercise and Life Sciences at Coventry University for over a year. During that post, she mostly pursued school-based projects, exploring movement skills, physical activity and motivation of primary school aged children. Now, back at LJMU, as a Senior Lecturer in Physical Education and Movement Science, she is module leading on the Human Movement module (Level 4). Katie won a British Academy small grant as Principle Investigator and that project is currently being run at Coventry. She is also still involved in a cardiopulmonary group project. She is hoping to continue her passion for motivational processes and movement skill research in children within Liverpool.
Languages
English
Welsh
Degrees
2021, Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom, PhD
2016, Bangor University, United Kingdom, MSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology
2010, Bangor University, United Kingdom, BSc in Psychology
Academic appointments
Senior Lecturer in Physical Education and Movement Science, Liverpool John Moores University, 2022 - present
Research Fellow of Physical Activity and Exercise Interventions, Coventry University, 2020 - 2022
Journal article
Rice J, Foweather L, Foulkes JD, Magill C, Meester AD, Stodden D, Lenoir M, Davies KF. 2025. Co-development of a gamified physical education movement competence intervention with school stakeholders European Physical Education Review, DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Fitton Davies K, Heering T, Watts M, Duncan MJ. 2024. Acceptability and Feasibility of Portable Eye-Tracking Technology within a Children’s Dynamic Sport Context: An Exploratory Study with Boys Who Play Grassroots Football Sports, 12 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Fitton Davies K, Clarke S, Martins R, Rudd JR, Duncan M. 2024. The effect of a home-based, gamified stability skills intervention on 4-5-year-old children's physical and cognitive outcomes: A pilot study Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 73 :1-11 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Duncan MJ, Fitton Davies K, Okwose N, Harwood AE, Jakovljevic DG. 2024. Effects of a 10-week integrated curriculum intervention on physical activity, resting blood pressure, motor skills and well-being in 6–7-year-olds Journal of Physical Activity and Health, :1-11 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
O'Callaghan L, Foweather L, Crotti M, Opicci L, Pesce C, Boddy L, Fitton Davies K, Rudd J. 2023. Associations of physical activity dose and movement quality with executive functions in socioeconomically disadvantaged children aged 5–6 years Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 70 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Duncan MJ, AlShabeb A, Fitton Davies K, Alshahrani N, Almasoud Y. 2023. A 6-Week Badminton-Based Movement Intervention Enhances Fundamental Movement Skills and Physical Fitness in Saudi Boys and Girls Sports, 11 :1-17 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Duncan MJ, Fitton Davies K, Africa E, Sevel E. 2022. Early years professionals’ perceptions and practices of motor skill development, physical activity and healthy eating Education 3-13, DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Jerebine A, Fitton-Davies K, Lander N, Eyre ELJ, Duncan MJ, Barnett LM. 2022. “Children are precious cargo; we don’t let them take any risks!”: Hearing from adults on safety and risk in children’s active play in schools: a systematic review International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 19 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Crotti M, Rudd J, Roberts S, Fitton Davies K, O'Callaghan L, Utesch T, Foweather L. 2022. Physical activity promoting teaching practices and children's physical activity within physical education lessons underpinned by motor learning theory (SAMPLE-PE) PloS one, 17 :e0272339 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Jerebine A, Fitton-Davies K, Lander N, Eyre ELJ, Duncan MJ, Barnett LM. 2022. “All the fun stuff, the teachers say, ‘that’s dangerous!’” Hearing from children on safety and risk in active play in schools: a systematic review International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 19 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Fitton-Davies K, Foweather L, Watson PM, Bardid F, Roberts SJ, Davids K, O'Callaghan L, Crotti M, Rudd J. 2021. Assessing the Motivational Climates in Early Physical Education Curricula underpinned by Motor Learning Theory: SAMPLE-PE Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Crotti M, Rudd JR, Weaver RG, Roberts SJ, O'Callaghan L, Fitton Davies K, Foweather L. 2021. Validation of modified SOFIT+: Relating physical activity promoting practices in physical education to moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in 5-6 year old children Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science, 25 :322-334 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Fitton Davies K, Watson PM, Rudd JR, Roberts SJ, Bardid F, Knowles ZR, Foweather L. 2021. Development and validity of the Motivation Assessment Tool for Physical Education (MAT-PE) among young children Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 54 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Crotti M, Rudd JR, Roberts SJ, Boddy LM, Fitton Davies K, O'Callaghan L, Utesch T, Foweather L. 2021. Effect of Linear and Nonlinear Pedagogy Physical Education Interventions on Children’s Physical Activity: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial (SAMPLE-PE) Children, 8 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Whitehead AE, Umeh FK, Brockett C, Westerbeek H, Powling E, Fitton Davies K, Rudd J. 2020. Motivational differences between 5K, half marathon and full marathon participants in the UK and India. Managing Sport and Leisure, DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Rudd JR, Crotti M, Fitton-Davies K, O'Callaghan L, Bardid F, Utesh T, Roberts SJ, Boddy LM, Cronin CJ, Knowles ZR, Foulkes JD, Watson PM, Pesce C, Button C, Lubans D, Buszard T, Walsh BA, Foweather L. 2020. Skill Acquisition Methods Fostering Physical Literacy in Early-Physical Education (SAMPLE-PE): Rationale and Study Protocol for a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial in 5–6-Year-Old Children From Deprived Areas of North West England Frontiers in Psychology, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Fitton Davies K, Sacko RS, Lyons MA, Duncan MJ. Association between Functional Movement Screen Scores and Athletic Performance in Adolescents: A Systematic Review Sports, 10 :28-28 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Chapters
Davies KF, Rudd J, Davids K, Lewis C. 2024. USING PRINCIPLES OF NONLINEAR PEDAGOGY TO DEVELOP SOCCER SKILLS Science and Practice of Youth Soccer :247-265 DOI Publisher Url
Rudd J, Davies KF, O'Callaghan L, Crotti M, Grace R, Foweather L. 2021. Physical education: Combining movement education and nonlinear pedagogy to provide meaningful physical education experiences Nonlinear Pedagogy and the Athletic Skills Model: The Importance of Play in Supporting Physical Literacy :129-133
Rudd J, Fitton Davies K, O'Callaghan L, Crotti M, Grace R, Foweather L. 2021. Physical Education Nonlinear Pedagogy and the Athletics Skills Model :129-133 Routledge DOI Publisher Url
Teaching qualification:
Fellowship of Advanced HE. 2023
AFHEA. 2018
Conference presentation:
Exploring Young Children’s Enjoyment of Physical Education., Agents of Change, Innovation and Networking event, Llandudno, Wales, Oral presentation. 2023
Closing the physical and cognitive attainment gap: A home-based, gamified intervention for 4-5-year-old children, 8th International Self-Determination Theory Conference, Orlando, Florida, Oral presentation. 2023
Self-determination theory, physical education & gamification, Innovation Conference, Oral presentation. 2022
Assessing the motivational climates of year 1 physical education curricula underpinned by motor learning theory: sample-pe, British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Oral presentation.
Assessing the motivational climates of year 1 physical education curricula underpinned by motor learning theory: sample-pe, International Motor Development Research Consortium, Oral presentation.
Research Grants Awarded:
The British Academy, Closing the physical and cognitive attainment gap for early years children through a home-based, gamified stability skills intervention: a pilot, Grant value (£): £7,012.50. 2021
Award:
Young Research Award (poster, 1st prize), European Federation of Sport Psychology. 2019
Membership of professional bodies:
Member, International Motor Development Research Consortium (I-MDRC).
Professional, BASES.