Alison Purvis

• PhD
• Associate Dean Learning Teaching & Student Success at Sheffield Hallam University

A qualitative study conducted at a large UK post-92 university explored the experiences and perceptions of lecturers and their use of social media in learning and teaching contexts in different disciplines across the institution. Discussion between participants in two focus groups revealed a range of complex and interdependent factors that influenc...

No previous research has quantified the energy balance of elite male squash players during a training microcycle. Consequently, the aim of this study was to concurrently quantify energy expenditure (EE), energy intake (EI) and energy availability (EA) among a cohort of elite male squash players to understand the energy balance of elite male squash...

This collaborative opinion piece offers the perspective that senior leaders must move beyond their traditional places within the academic or professional services spaces to act as hybrid professionals or translators. We take five perspectives as senior leaders and build a collective opinion of our view of the role of senior leaders as third space p...

Purpose To systematically review all the physiological and nutritional research conducted in squash to guide practitioners and researchers on how best to interpret the data, while identifying gaps in the literature to determine future directions of research within squash. Methods Following PRISMA guidelines, studies investigating an aspect of phys...

Research questions play a central role in papers, indicating the phenomenon or problem that is being addressed, and clearly stating what is being investigated. Indeed, the presence of research questions within a research article is an established quality indicator, and research questions form the basis of determining hypotheses, methodology, method...

With a rise in unethical conduct in research across social science disciplines, there is clearly an issue with the approaches and understanding of requirements to meet ethical standards of research. Peer-reviewed journals rely on establishing and developing quality literature that scholars, practitioners, and policy makers can use for the benefit o...

Aim Physical activity is an important behaviour for managing the ten times increased risk of type 2 diabetes after gestational diabetes. Previous studies exploring physical activity promotion in healthcare focus on general practitioners but have not explored the gestational diabetes pathway. Therefore, this paper explores the barriers to and sugges...

Objectives Gestational diabetes commonly occurs during pregnancy and increases lifetime risk of type 2 diabetes following pregnancy. Engaging in physical activity postnatally can reduce this subsequent risk. Interventions aiming to increase physical activity after gestational diabetes may not address the wide range of post-pregnancy barriers. A soc...

Since the emergence of social media in the early 2000's, innovative educators have sought ways to utilise, adapt, and maximise the opportunities for learning within social networking and collaborative online spaces. The purpose of this systematic review is to analyse the work published on social media for learning in the Journal of University Teach...

Aim: The risk of Type 2 Diabetes is 10 times higher after a pregnancy with Gestational Diabetes. Physical activity can independently reduce this risk, yet engagement with physical activity remains low after Gestational Diabetes. Therefore, the present study aimed to explore the barriers and facilitators to the uptake of physical activity after Ges...

Purpose Physical activity is recommended after Gestational Diabetes to reduce risk of subsequent Type 2 Diabetes. However, uptake and maintenance of physical activity is low. Approaching barriers and facilitators to physical activity using a socio-ecological approach could help better direct multi-level interventions in future. The present review t...

Physical activity can reduce risk of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) after gestational diabetes. Understanding barriers and facilitators to physical activity, using a socio-ecological approach, could better direct multi-level interventions. The present review aimed to synthesise barriers and facilitators to physical activity, and to develop an understanding...

Elite squash players are reported to train indoors at high volumes and intensities throughout a microcycle. This may increase hydration demands, with hypohydration potentially impairing many key performance indicators which characterise elite squash performance. Consequently, the main aim of this study was to quantify the sweat rates and sweat [Na+...

This case study features an observation of an obese female (body mass index ≥ 30 kgm-2) who undertook a 10-day water and electrolyte fast with the aim of reducing body fat and improving physiological markers of health. A comprehensive range of physiological measures (body mass, girths, blood pressure, body fluid balance, urine osmolarity, and rest...

This editorial describes some of the current and emerging challenges in peer review for the academic publishing system. Peer review is a fundamental element of academic research and publishing, with a firm reliance on the global scholarly community to perform gatekeeping and filtering processes in pursuing high-quality and high-value scholarly publ...

This editorial describes some of the current and emerging challenges in peer review for the academic publishing system. Peer review is a fundamental element of academic research and publishing, with a firm reliance on the global scholarly community to perform gatekeeping and filtering processes in pursuing high-quality and high-value scholarly publ...

Background There is a reported mismatch between macronutrient consumption and contemporary macronutrient guidelines in elite standard squash players. Suboptimal dietary practices could be due to a lack of nutrition knowledge among players. Subsequently, the purpose of this study was to assess the sports nutrition knowledge of elite squash players t...

Background: There is a reported mismatch between macronutrient consumption and contemporary macronutrient guidelines in elite standard squash players. Suboptimal dietary practices could be due to a lack of nutrition knowledge among players. Subsequently, the purpose of this study was to assess the sports nutrition knowledge of elite squash players...

Recent evidence has demonstrated the potential safety of such energy reduction via intermittent fasting (Varady et al., 2009), however, metabolic and psychological responses to extended fasting is largely unreported. The aim of this case study was to measure the effects of a 10-day water and electrolyte fast on biochemical and metabolic markers of...

The vertical treadmill (VertiRun) is an unresearched mode of exercise where users engage in a “running-like” action whilst body weight is supported by a recumbent bench and overhanging resistance cables are tethered to the user’s ankles. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of training on a VertiRun and any cross-training effect o...

The vertical treadmill (VertiRun) is an unresearched, partial weight-bearing exercise mode for lower limb rehabilitation. The user undertakes a “running-like” action whilst body weight is supported by a bench and the limb is drawn downwards against overhanging resistance cables on a vertically hung nonmotorised treadmill. This study sought to descr...

Background: Performing exercise in thermally stressful environments impairs exercise capacity and performance. Cooling during exercise has the potential to attenuate detrimental increases in body temperature and improve exercise capacity and performance. Objective: The objective of this review was to assess the effectiveness of practical cooling...

There are many examples of social media being used in higher education to enhance learning and teaching. While some academics are confident in exploring multiple strands of social media and blend them instinctively for a multi-dimensional learning experience; others are more tentative, preferring to understand the nature of the tool or process thor...

The purpose of this study was to quantify physiological and perceptual responses to hand immersion in water during recumbent cycling in a hot environment. Seven physically active males (body mass 79.8 ± 6.3 kg; stature 182 ± 5 cm; age 23 ± 3 years) immersed their hands in 8, 14 and 34°C water whilst cycling at an intensity (W) equivalent to 50% O2p...

Hot environments impair performance, yet sporting events are frequently scheduled in hot and humid environments (e.g., stages of the Tour de France). Evidence-based practical strategies that improve performance are of interest to scientists and applied practitioners. Cooling the body has been the subject of several reviews, two of which [1,2] inves...

Exercise in hot environments increases body temperature and challenges the function of cardiovascular, metabolic and thermoregulatory systems. Elevated body temperature as a consequence of prolonged and/or intense exercise impairs athletic performance and increases the risk of heat illness and serious medical conditions. Pre-exercise cooling techni...

This paper shares the strategy we have developed at Sheffield Hallam University (SHU) to educate and guide staff and students in their use of social media. Students need to understand their responsibilities to themselves and the institution, to develop sustainable strategies for using social media to enhance their learning and to develop their empl...

Exercise in hot environments increases body temperature and challenges the function of cardiovascular, metabolic and thermoregulatory systems. Elevated body temperature as a consequence of prolonged and/or intense exercise impairs athletic performance and increases the risk of heat illness and serious medical conditions. Pre-exercise cooling techni...

Ruddock, AD, Tew, GA, and Purvis, AJ. Reliability of intestinal temperature using an ingestible telemetry pill system during exercise in a hot environment. J Strength Cond Res 28(3): 861-869, 2014-Ingestible telemetry pill systems are being increasingly used to assess the intestinal temperature during exercise in hot environments. The purpose of th...

A level 6 module was developed in order to implement innovative assessment strategies and encourage higher level learning. The module tutor (one of this paper’s authors) was seconded from teaching duties (40%) to the University’s academic development unit to work on the module transformation. The rationale for the redesign of the assessment strateg...

The aim of this study was to compare the prolactin and blood pressure responses at identical core temperatures during active and passive heat stresses, using prolactin as an indirect marker of central fatigue. Twelve male subjects cycled to exhaustion at 60% maximal oxygen uptake (VO2peak) in a room maintained at 33 degrees C (active). In a second...

The anterior pituitary hormone prolactin (PRL), measured in the peripheral blood circulation, reflects alterations in central brain 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) and dopaminergic activity and is used as a marker of 'central fatigue' during active heat exposure. Significant correlations have consistently been found between PRL and core temperature...

Many fabrics and clothing 'systems' have been designed to enhance heat balance and provide greater thermal comfort for the wearer. However, studies on the effects of socks have largely been ignored in clothing research. It has been suggested that the thermal state of the extremities may alter core temperature and mental stress may be a major determ...

In soccer, goalkeepers routinely wear gloves that may restrict heat loss from the hands and cause thermal discomfort. In order to alleviate this problem phase control materials (PCMs) have been incorporated into gloves to reduce heat load inside the glove, thereby maintaining a comfortable temperature. The aim of this study was to assess the effica...