research priorities

The Centre generates, translates and transfers research into practical knowledge about physical activity for practitioners, organizations, communities and decision-makers.

The research priority areas are determined by the Alberta Centre for Active Living's Research Advisory Committee with the assistance of: 

• John C. Spence, PhD, Senior Research Associate, 
• Tanya Berry, PhD, Research Associate, and
• Christina Loitz, MSc, Research Coordinator.

The research priority areas are also supported by the Centre's Research Affiliates who are internationally known researchers in the area of physical activity. 

One page pdf version

The following three Research Priority Areas guide, but do not limit, the Centre’s work.

Priority Area I: Understanding interventions, “best practices” and programs related to physical activity

Research into the development and/or evaluation of physical activity interventions, “best practices” and programs including:

• clinical, school-based, workplace and community-based interventions to promote and support physical activity;
• knowledge transfer and dissemination;
• benefit-based approach to management of recreational programs/services;
• development and evaluation of workplace active living programs;
• identification of “best practices”; and
• measurement issues related to active living/physical activity, i.e., outcomes.

Priority Area II: Understanding the determinants of physical activity

Research into understanding the determinants, strategies and approaches for changing behaviours of individuals, selected groups within the overall population, or the overall population itself, including:

• socio-cultural influences on physical activity;
• social marketing and promotion of physical activity;
• barriers and constraints to participation in physical activity;
• creating physical and social environments that are conducive to physical activity; and
• psychological influences on physical activity.

Priority Area III: Monitoring the status of physical activity in the province of Alberta

Research aimed at tracking the status of physical activity in the general population and within specific identified sub-groups of the population, including:

• community-based physical activity surveys;
• school-based physical activity surveys;
• workplace-based physical activity surveys;
• physical activity in older adults;
• physical activity in children and youth;
• physical activity in marginalized segments (e.g., low income, Aboriginal, women); and
• secondary analysis of Alberta data.

For more information
Dr. Tanya Berry , Research Associate
3rd Floor, 11759 Groat Road, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5M 3K6
Phone: 780-427-6949 or 1-800-661-4551 (toll-free in Alberta only)
Fax: 780-427-2677
E-mail: active.living@ualberta.ca