Introduction to Research in Physical Activity 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 Methods of Problem Solving Tenacity Intuition Authority The rationalistic method The empirical method

Scientific Method of 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 Descriptive research 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 Completing the thesis Introduction Problem and hypotheses Literature review Method Participants Instruments and measurements Procedures Design and analysis Completing the thesis Results Discussion and conclusions