Dr Warburton’s research focuses on the developmental aspects of young people's motivation, with particular attention on the physical education context. This includes aspects such as achievement goals, self-theories of ability, development of the self-concept and competence perceptions, and the motivational climate.

Recent projects have included examining the effect of the motivational climate on children's physical self-concept across the primary to secondary transition and the effect of teacher and peer climates on motivation in physical education. Current projects include the temporal patterns of approach-avoidance goals in physical education, the development of competence perceptions in young children in the physical education context, the quality of teacher-pupil relationships, and the development of pupils’ health knowledge across the transition from primary to secondary school.
 

Current doctoral students

• James Hupton (1^st supervisor EdD)
• Maria Papaefstathiou (Joint 1^st Supervisor PhD)
• Gary Penn (2^nd Supervisor EdD)

Publications

Journal articles

Braithwaite, R., Spray, C., & Warburton, V. E. (2011). A meta-analytic review of motivational climate interventions in physical activity settings. Psychology of Sport & Exercise. Psychology of Sport & Exercise, 12, 628-638. 

Spray, C. M., & Warburton, V., E. (2011). Temporal relations among multidimensional perceptions of competence and trichotomous achievement goal adoption in physical education. Psychology of Sport & Exercise, 12, 515-524. 

Warburton, V., E., & Spray, C. M. (2009). Antecedents of approach-avoidance achievement goal adoption in physical education: A longitudinal perspective. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 28, 214-232. 

Warburton, V., E., & Spray, C. M. (2008). Motivation in physical education across the primary-secondary school transition. European Physical Education Review, 14, 157-178. 

Spray, C. M., Wang, C. K. J., Biddle, S. J. H., Chatzisarantis, N. L. D., & Warburton, V., E. (2006). An experimental test of self-theories of ability in youth sport. Psychology of Sport and Exercise 7, 255-267.
 

Refereed conference proceedings 

Warburton, V.E. (2012). Peer and teacher climates in physical education: A longitudinal perspective. In the British Psychological Society Book of Abstracts: The annual conference. (p.83) Grand Connaught Rooms, London, UK: The BPS. 

Warburton, V.E. (2011). Teacher and peer climates in physical education. Sport psychology: Human performance, well-being and health. Proceedings of the 13^th European Congress of Sport Psychology. Funchal, Madeira: FEPSAC. 

Spray, C.M. & Warburton, V.E. (2009). Motivation in Physical Education Across the Primary Secondary School Transition. NASPSPA Conference, Austin, TX. 

Warburton, V.E. & Spray, C.M. (2009) Antecedents and consequences of performance achievement goals in physical education: An exploratory examination of approach-avoidance and appearance-competition dimensions. 12^th World Congress of the International Society of Sport Psychology: Meeting New Challenges and Bridging Cultural Gaps in Sport and Exercise Psychology, Marrakech, Morocco.  

Spray, C.M. & Warburton, V.E. (2008). A multilevel analysis of motivation in primary school physical education. In the British Psychological Society Book of Abstracts: The inaugural conference of the Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology. BPS Headquarters, London, UK: The BPS.  

Warburton, V.E. & Spray, C.M. (2008). Predicting Change in Approach-Avoidance Goal Adoption: An Analysis of Two Physical Education Activities. In the British Psychological Society Book of Abstracts: The inaugural conference of the Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology. BPS Headquarters, London, UK: The BPS. 

Warburton, V.E., Spray., C.M. & Smith, A. (2008). Achievement Goals, Motivation and Friendship Quality in PE Classes. In British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (Ed). Programme & Abstract Book. 2008 BASES Annual Conference. No athlete is an island: the role of interpersonal factors in sport symposium (p. 41). Brunel University, UK: BASES. 

Warburton, V.E. & Spray, C.M. (2007). Changes in approach-avoidance achievement motivation in physical education across the primary-secondary school transition. In Y. Theodorakis, M. Goudas and A. Papaioannou (Eds). Sport and exercise psychology bridges between disciplines and cultures. Proceedings of the 12th European Congress of Sport Psychology. (p.53). Halkidiki, Greece: FEPSAC. 

Warburton, V.E. & Spray, C.M. (2006) Examining motivation in physical education across the primary-secondary transition. In the British Psychological Society Book of Abstracts: The New Annual Conference. (p, 95). Cardiff, UK: The BPS. 

Spray, C.M. & Warburton, V.E. (2003). Ability beliefs, achievement goals, and motivation in physical education classes. In R. Stelter (Ed). New approaches to exercise and sport psychology: Theories, methods and applications. Proceedings of the 11th European Congress of Sport Psychology. (p.160). Copenhagen, Denmark: FEPSAC.

Funded research projects

2012: EDU Pump Priming Research Fund: The quality of teacher-pupil relationships in Physical Education: A key factor for pupils' achievement, motivation and well-being. Principal Investigator: Victoria Warburton; Co-Investigators: Lee Beaumont and Sophia Jowett (Loughborough University). (£948.88) Awarded.

2012: Sport England: The review of cost-benefit models and their applicability to sport. Project Director Dr Ric Fordham. (£49,900 exc VAT). Awarded 

2010: British Academy: A longitudinal study of the influence of peer and teacher climates in physical education. (£4127). Awarded.

Invited presentations

UEA PsychX Seminar Series: "I’m motivated in PE”: Is there a link to lifelong physical activity participation? 1^st March 2012 

UEA EDU Informal Seminar: Tracking changes in pupils’ motivation in Physical Education. 20^th May 2010.

Invited reviews

Guest Reviewer for the following journals:

• Psychology of Sport & Exercise
• Journal of Teaching in Physical Education
• European Physical Education Review
• International Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology
• International Journal of Sport Psychology
• Journal of Applied Sport Psychology
• Motivation and Emotion
• Educational Review
   

Since joining the School of Education and Lifelong Learning Victoria has taught on the BA Physical Education degree programme. Her main teaching interest lies in the area of Sport and Exercise Psychology with module leader responsibilities for Sport and Exercise Psychology (year one), Psychology of Physical Activity (year two) and Psychology of Physical Education (year 3). She also provides quantitative support for the Research Enquiry (year 2) and Dissertation (year 3) modules.

She has had module leader responsibilities for the following modules:

Academic Year 08/09

Analysis and Performance in Sport (1) (year 1)
Acquiring and Developing Skill in Sport (year 1)
Partnerships in Sports Provision (year 3)
Health & Physical Activity Promotion (year 3)

Academic Year 09/10

Sport & Exercise Psychology (year 1)
Psychology of Physical Education (year 2)
Psychology of Physical Activity & Exercise (year2)

Academic Year 10/11

The Anatomical & Physiological Basis of Human Movement (year 1)
Acquiring and Developing Skill in Sport (year 1)
Psychology of Physical Activity (year2)

She has also contributed to the following modules:

Advanced Enquiry in PE and Sport (year 3) (AY 2008/2009, 2009/2010)
Factors Affecting Performance (year 3) (AY 2008/2009)