Dr Richard Cooke

Psychology
School of Life and Health Sciences
Aston University
Birmingham B4 7ET
UK

telephone: +44 (0)121 204 4072
fax:            +44 (0)121 204 4090

Lecturer on the Psychology Teaching Programme
Member of the Health & Human Development Research Group

Current Research Interests

Motivation and theories of health behaviour

My research uses theories like Ajzen’s (1985, 1991) Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) to investigate how motivation affects behaviour. I am interested in several issues:

• Do the variables in the theories predict motivation/behaviour as proposed by the theories? (Cooke & French, 2008, Psychology & Health)
• Can variables be added to the theories to improve prediction of behaviour and motivation? (Cooke et al., 2007, Alcohol & Alcoholism; Holland et al., 2009, Health Education Research)
• Do properties of variables, such as intention stability, affect the strength of relationships within the theory? (Cooke & Sheeran, 2004, British Journal of Social Psychology)
• Are we measuring constructs effectively? (French et al., 2007, Journal of Health Psychology)
• How are theories linked to behaviour change?

Motivation to binge-drink

Within my research on theories, I am particularly interested in motivation to binge-drink (i.e., drinking more than recommended guidelines for alcohol consumption). Binge-drinking is common behaviour among young people, but our understanding of the factors associated with binge-drinking is limited. Work is needed to address the following questions.

• Do perceptions of binge-drinking affect binge-drinking motivation and behaviour?
• What factors predict binge-drinking behaviour?
• How do we intervene to reduce binge-drinking in young people?

Perceptions and experiences of patients and healthcare professionals: Qualitative Evaluation of "Deadly Trio" Cardiovascular Screening programme for Heart of Birmingham teaching and Primary Care Trust 

Self-affirmation & Information Processing

Health promotion materials often emphasise threat to promote behaviour change. However, threatening information can initiate defensive processes (e.g., ignoring the message) that reduce processing of the information, and undermine behaviour change. Self-affirmation (writing about a valued aspect of your self-concept e.g., honesty) has been shown to reduce defensive processing and increases persuasion (see Harris & Napper, 2005, Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin). The European Health Psychology Society has awarded a network grant to me, Dr Peter Harris (University of Sheffield), Dr Urte Scholz (University of Bern), Dr Benjamin Schüz (DZA, Berlin), and Dr Guido van Koningsbruggen (Utrecht University) to explore the limits of self-affirmation. The network grant covers a series of research meetings, the first meeting takes place on 18th June in Berlin, and will allow for four research studies to be completed. The grant aims to promote collaboration between European researchers.

Information on the Division of Health Psychology Conference >

Recent Publications

French, D.P., & Cooke, R. (2011).Using the Theory of Planned Behaviour to understand binge drinking: the importance of beliefs for developing interventions. British Journal of Health Psychology DOI:10.1111/j.2044-8287.2010.02010.

Cooke, R., French, D.P., & Sniehotta, F. (2010). Wide variation in understanding what constitutes ‘binge-drinking.’ Drugs: Education, Prevention & Policy, 17, 762-775.

Coleman, L., Ramm, J., & Cooke, R. (2010). The effectiveness of an innovative intervention aimed at reducing binge drinking among young people: results from a pilot study.  Drugs: Education, Prevention & Policy, 17, 413-430.

Carmichael, A.R., Hatbach L., & Cooke, R. (2009). Breast clinic and lifestyle study (BLISS). International Seminars in Surgical Oncology, 6:12

Shaw, R.L., Senior, C., Peel, E.L., Cooke, R, & Donnelly, L.S. (2008). Ethical issues in neuroimaging health research: An IPA study with research participants. Journal of Health Psychology, 13, 1051-1059.

Cooke, R & French, D.P. (2008). How well do the theory of reasoned action and theory of planned behaviour predict intentions and attendance at screening programmes? A meta-analysis. Psychology & Health, 23,  745-765

French, D.P., Cooke, R., McLean, N., Williams, M., Sutton, S. (2007). What do people think about when they answer theory of planned behaviour questionnaires? A “think aloud” study. Journal of Health Psychology, 12, 672-687.

Cooke, R., Sniehotta, F.F., Schüz, B. (2007). Predicting binge-drinking behaviour using an extended TPB: Examining the impact of anticipated regret and descriptive norms. Alcohol & Alcoholism, 42, 84-91.

http://alcalc.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/agl115?ijkey=42KCmWsyjlHM6Z2&keytype=ref

Senior, C., Smyth, H., Cooke, R., Shaw, R.L., & Peel, E. (2007) Mapping the mind for the modern market researcher, Qualitative Market Research, 10(2), 153-167.

Cooke, R., Peel, E., Shaw, R.L., & Senior, C. (2007). The neuroimaging research process from the participants’ perspective. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 62, 152-158.

Cooke, R., Bewick, B.M., Barkham, M., Bradley, M., Audin, K. (2006). Measuring, monitoring and managing the psychological well-being of students. British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 34, 505-517.

Sheeran, P., Aarts, H., Custers, R., Rivis, A., Webb. T. L., & Cooke, R. (2005) The goal-dependent automaticity of drinking habits. British Journal of Social Psychology, 44, 47-63.

Cooke, R., & Sheeran, P. (2004). Moderation of cognition-intention and cognition-behaviour relations: A meta-analysis of properties of variables from the theory of planned behaviour. British Journal of Social Psychology, 43, 159-186.

Cooke, R., & Sheeran, P.  (2004). Accessibility and temporal stability as moderators of cognition-behaviour relations in the theory of planned behaviour. Irish Journal of Psychology, 25, 44-64.

Cooke, R., Barkham, M., Audin, K., Bradley, M., & Davy, J. (2004). How social class differences affect students' experiences of university. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 28,407-422.

Cooke, R., Barkham, M., Audin, K., Bradley, M, Davy, J., & Slack J. (2004) Student debt and its relation to student mental health. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 28, 53-66.

Research Grants

Evaluation of the cardiovascular screening programme, £85,764.30, 18 months, Heart of Birmingham Teaching Primary Care Trust, Dr Richard Cooke (PI), Dr Rachel Shaw, Dr Helen Pattison, Dr Carol Holland, Dr Elizabeth Peel

Exploring when and how self-affirmation works, €5000, 9 months, European Health Psychology Society.Dr Benjamin Schüz (PI), Dr Richard Cooke, Dr Guido van Koningsbruggen, Dr Peter Harris, and Dr Urte Scholz.

Encouraging sustainable behaviours using information processing and behaviour change techniques, £10,000, 3 months, Centre for Sustainability & Innovation (CSI), Aston University, Dr Richard Cooke (PI), Professor Veronica Wong, Dr Kai Liu

Embedding education for sustainable development (ESD) into the psychology curriculum, £6,393.40, 12 months, Higher Education Academy (Psychology Network). Dr Richard Cooke (PI) andMr Peter Reddy

Engaging different communities with sustainability, £14,500, 4 months, CSI, Dr Carole Parkes, Dr Richard Cooke, DrAjmal Hussain, Dr Roya Gholami

Neuroimaging: Understanding the perceptions and experiences of participants, £7000, 1 year, British Academy of Science. Dr Liz Peel (PI), Dr Richard Cooke and Dr Rachel Shaw.

Symposia Organised

Cooke, R. (2010) Self-affirmation: Does it promote health protective behaviours? Conference of the European Health Psychology Society, Cluj-Napoca.

Cooke, R. (2009) Exploring how self-affirmation works: Methods and Mechanisms. Conference of the European Health Psychology Society, Pisa.

Conference Presentations

Cooper, Y., Cooke, R., Holland, C., Shaw, R.L., Pattison, H.M., & Peel, E.A. (2011) ‘Systematic literature review of quantitative evaluations of cardiovascular screenings: What can previous studies teach us?, Midlands Health Psychology Network, Derby

Cooke, R., Coleman., & Ramm, J. (2010) ‘Reducing binge-drinking among young people using digital stories’, B.P.S Division of Health Psychology, Belfast.

Shaw, R.L., Cooke, R., Holland, C., Pattison, H., Wood, J., Neil, L., & Lewis, Y. (2010) ‘Putting the cart before the horse? Assessing the feasibility of incorporating innovative e-learning technologies into postgraduate taught programmes with on- and off-campus students’ PLAT, Edinburgh.

Cooke, R. &Sniehotta, F.F. (2009) ‘Does binge-drinking status affect perceptions of binge-drinking?’ KBS Thematic meeting, Nijmegen

Cooke, R., Coleman, L., & Ramm, J.  (2009) ‘The effectiveness of an innovative intervention aimed at reducing binge-drinking among young people’ INEBRIA, Gateshead.

Waldron, S.M., Cooke, R., Wright, A.J., & Harris, P. (2009). ‘Disease detection vs. health promotion behaviours in relation to safe sex and safe skin care’ B.P.S Division of Health Psychology, Aston.

Cooke, R. & Sniehotta, F.  (2009) ‘Knowledge of binge-drinking limits and perceptions of binge-drinking status among UK undergraduates’ B.P.S Division of Health Psychology, Aston.

Cooke, R., French, D.P., & Sniehotta, F.  (2009) ‘Wide variation in understanding what constitutes “Binge-Drinking.”’ Psychology, Health & Medicine annual conference, Dublin.

Shaw, R.L. & Cooke, R. (2009) ‘Exploring users’ expectations and experiences of brain imaging.’ Brains in Dialogue, Cambridge.

Cooke, R., & French, D.P. (2008) ‘What moderates prediction of screening attendance? A meta-analysis of Theory of Planned Behaviour studies.’ Joint Conference of the European Health Psychology Society and the B.P.S Division of Health Psychology, Bath.

Zhang, Y; Cooke, R. (2008). Using a combined motivational and volitional intervention to increase physical activity and health eating.’ Joint Conference of the European Health Psychology Society and the B.P.S Division of Health Psychology, Bath.

Shaw, R.L., Peel, E., Donnelly, L.S., Cooke, R., & Senior, C. (2008) Using IPA to understand users’ expectations and experiences of having an MRI brain scan, Qualitative Methods in Psychology Section Inaugural Conference, Leeds.

Cooke, R., Sniehotta, F.F., & Schüz, B. (2007) ‘Predicting binge-drinking behaviour using an extended TPB: Examining the impact of anticipated regret and descriptive norms’, B.P.S. Division of Health Psychology Conference, Nottingham.

Cooper, T., & Cooke, R. (2007) ‘Can self-regulatory strategies reduce binge-drinking behaviour in undergraduates?’, B.P.S. Division of Health Psychology, Nottingham.   

Cooke, R., & French, D.P. (2007) ‘Does context affect the prediction of binge-drinking intentions?’ Conference of the European Health Psychology Society, Maastricht.

Cooke, R., Schüz, B., & Sniehotta, F.F. (2006) 'Motivational and volitional determinants of binge-drinking behaviour', Conference of the European Health Psychology Society, Warsaw.

Cooper, T., Cooke R., Schüz, B., & Sniehotta, F.F., (2006). 'Motivational and volitional determinants of binge-drinking behaviour', Midlands Health Psychology Network, Leicester.

Cooke, R., & French, D.P. (2005) Using the Theory of Planned Behaviour/Theory of Reasoned Action to predict screening attendance: A meta-analysis. B.P.S Division of Health Psychology Conference, Coventry.

Gatz, J., Sniehotta, F.F., Cooke, R., & Schuez, B. (2005) Ausfuehrungsplanung und Bewaeltigungsplanung zur Praevention von Binge Drinking unter schottischen Studenten: Eine Interventionsstudie, German Congress on Health Psychology, Freiberg.

Moses, K., & Cooke, R. (2005) Fit and healthy? The prevalence of Eating Disorder Symptomatology in athlete and non-athlete populations. B.P.S Division of Health Psychology Conference, Coventry.

Cooke, R., & Sheeran, P. (2004) Factor structure of properties of behavioural intention. Conference of the European Health Psychology Society, Helsinki.

Cooke, R., & Sheeran, P. (2003) Impact of temporal stability of intentions on information processing. B.P.S. Division of Health Psychology Conference, Stafford.

Cooke, R., & Sheeran, P. (2002) The structure of properties of behavioural intention and their capacity to moderate the intention-behaviour relationship. B.P.S. Division of Health Psychology Conference, Sheffield.

Cooke, R., & Sheeran, P. (2002) Moderation of cognition-intentions and cognition-behaviour relations: A meta-analysis of properties of variables from the theory of planned behaviour. 13th General Meeting of the European Association of Experimental Social Psychology, San Sebastian.

Invited Talks

Cooke, R. (2011) Evaluating the Deadly Trio cardiovascular screening programme, Health Sciences, Primary Care Group, University of Manchester

Cooke, R. (2010) Increasing physical activity using self-affirmation, German Centre for Gerontology

Cooke, R. (2009) Awareness of binge drinking definitions: How much do we know? Midlands Health Psychology Network, Coventry University

Cooke, R. (2009) Does context affect motivation to binge-drink? De Montfort University 

Cooke, R. (2007) Does context affect motivation to binge-drink? University of Leeds

Cooke, R. (2007). Applying health psychology to understand motivation to binge-drink. University of Cambridge

Cooke, R. (2006) What do people think about when they answer Theory of Planned Behaviour questionnaires? A think aloud study. Free University Berlin

Cooke, R. (2005) Understanding intention-behaviour consistency in health psychology University of Aberdeen.

Cooke, R. (2005) What do people think about when they answer Theory of Planned Behaviour questionnaires? A think aloud study. University of Derby.

Cooke, R. (2004) Moderating intention-behaviour consistency in health psychology. Psychology and Genetics Research Group, Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London.

Cooke, R. (2001) Moderating cognition-behaviour relations. University of Kent at Canterbury.

Professional Qualifications

• Chartered Psychologist
• Health Psychologist (Registration with Health Professionals Council)
  

Membership of Professional Bodies

• Member of the British Psychological Society
  
• Member of the Division of Health Psychology
  
• Member of the European Health Psychology Society
• Member of the UK Society for Behavioural Medicine
  

Editorial Board Membership & Peer Review Experience

• International Advisory Board member for British Journal of Health Psychology (2010-)
• Scholar panel member for the British Journal of Health Psychology (2007-2010)
• Co-editor of The European Health Psychologist (2010-)
• Editorial board member for Drugs & Alcohol Today (2007-2009)
• Reviewer for academic journals: Addictive Behaviors, Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, Appetite, BMC Public Health, British Journal of Health Psychology, British Journal of Psychology, British Journal of Social Psychology, Drugs & Alcohol Today, Drugs: Education, Prevention & Policy, European Journal of Social Psychology, Health Communication Research, Health Education Research, International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, Journal of Health Psychology, Journal of Infant & Reproductive Psychology, Journal of Sports & Exercise Psychology Psychology & Health, Psychology, Health & Medicine, Public Health, Sexual Health and Stress & Health

Last saved: 26/03/07