chapter

1

Introduction to Research in Physical Activity

Chapter Outline

• The nature of research• Unscientific versus scientific methods of

problem solving• Alternative models of research• Types of research• Overview of the research process

Five Characteristics of Research

• Systematic: plan, identify, design, collect data, evaluate.

• Logical: examine procedures to evaluate conclusions.

• Empirical: decisions are based on data.• Reductive: general relationships are

established from data.• Replicable: actions are recorded.

Continuum of Basic to Applied Research

• Level I—Basic research– Goal: Theory-driven– Approach: Laboratory

• Level II—Moderate relevance– Goal: Theory-based using relevant movements– Approach: Similar to real-world task or setting

• Level III—Applied research– Goal: Immediate solutions– Approach: Real-world settings

Quality Research Involves

• Identifying and delimiting the problem• Searching, reviewing, and writing about the

literature• Specifying and defining testable hypotheses• Designing research to test the hypotheses• Selecting, describing, testing, and treating the

participants• Analyzing and reporting the results• Discussing the meaning and implications of the

findings

Reading Research

• Become familiar with relevant publications.• Read studies of interest.• Read as a practitioner would.• Read the abstract first.• Don’t worry too much about the statistics.• Be critical but objective.

Unscientific Methodsof Problem Solving

• Tenacity• Intuition• Authority• The rationalistic method• The empirical method

Scientific Methodof Problem Solving

• Step 1: developing the problem (defining and delimiting it)

• Step 2: formulating the hypotheses• Step 3: gathering the data• Step 4: analyzing and interpreting results

Alternative Models of Research

• Normal science– Previously useful theories– Scientific method

• Challenges to normal science– Inconsistent findings– Alternative interpretations

• Paradigm shifts– New theories– New methods

• How knowledge is advanced

Types of Research

• Analytical– Historical– Philosophic– Reviews– Research synthesis (meta-analysis)

• Descriptive research– Questionnaire– Interview– Normative survey

Types of Research

• Other types of descriptive research– Case study– Job analysis– Observational research– Developmental studies– Correlational studies

• Epidemiologic research• Experimental research–establishes cause and

effect• Qualitative research–uses a different paradigm

Model for Research

Parts of a Thesis

• Proposal : Research plan– Introduction

• Problem and hypotheses

– Literature review– Method

• Participants• Instruments and measurements• Procedures• Design and analysis

• Completing the thesis– Results– Discussion and conclusions