What is Research?

Intro.  Research- “Any honest attempt to study a problem systematically or to add to man’s knowledge of a problem may be regarded as research.”

Intro. Cont.  Sport research has recently emerged as an area of academic interest  Sport Research has become vital  Social, political, technological and economic contexts all influence  And are influenced by sport

Intro Cont.  List of Sport Research Journals 1) Sociology of Sport 2) Journal of Sport Management 3) Journal of Sport Behavior 4) Journal of Sport and Social Issues 5) International Review for the Sociology of Sport 6) European Journal of Sport Management 7) European Sport Management Quarterly 8) Culture, Sport and Society

What Do We Mean By Research?  Defined: Research is a systematic process of discovery and advancement of human knowledge.  This definition, like many others, is open to criticism.  Good foundation.

The Characteristics of Research  1. Research is generated by a specific research question, hypothesis or problem.  2. Research follows a specific plan or procedure- the research process.  3. Research aims at increasing understanding by interpreting facts ad reaching conclusions based on those facts.

Characteristics Cont.  4. Research requires reasoned argument to support conclusions.  5. Research is reiterative- it is based on previous knowledge, which it aims to advance, but it may also develop further research questions.  Research is more than searching for facts.

Characteristics Cont.  The Five stages of Data Collection:  1. The stage before data collection, where the researcher decides upon the research question, the aim of the research objectives and the theoretical framework that underlies the research.  2. The Stage of designing how to collect the data to answer the question, or the research design.

Characteristics Cont.  3. The actual data collection stage, Where the data is collected by one or more research methods.  4. The analysis of the data- with reference to the theoretical framework adopted- to answer the question  5. The reporting of the research to communicate the findings to others.

Why Undertake Research?  To investigate some existing situation  To provide solutions to a problem  To explore and analyze more general issues  To construct or create a new procedure or system  To explain a new phenomenon  A combination of two or more of any of the above.

The Different Types of Research  Exploratory Research  Descriptive Research  Explanatory Research  Predictive Research

Exploratory Research  Little or no prior knowledge of a phenomenon.  There is a need for an initial exploration before more research can be done.  Looks for clues, patterns, and ideas  No preconceived ideas or explanations  Generally followed up by further research that tests any ideas or hypotheses generated.

Descriptive Research  Describes a particular phenomenon  Focusing on the issue of what is happening, not why it is happening.  There is no attempt to explain the results obtained.  For example: research to find out how many people attend the 2002 Winter Olympics, and whether more males or females attended; would be descriptive.

Explanatory Research  Explaining why something happens  Assessing casual relationships between variables  Requires some sort of theoretical framework so that explanation can be produced from the data.  For Example: a researcher interested in knowing why more males attended the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Predictive Research  Forecasts future phenomena  Based on the interpretations suggested by explanatory research.

Pure and Applied Research  Pure Research: To explore a particular concept, or issue, without regard for a specific problem.  Simply to gain a better understanding of the overall concepts.  Applied Research: To solve a specific problem or provide a solution to a practical question.

Primary and Secondary Research  Primary Research: Generally refers to research that has involved the collection of original data.  Uses methods such as questionnaires or interviews.  Secondary Research: Refers to research where no such original data is collected.  The research uses existing (secondary) sources of data. For example: a census data.

Theoretical and Empirical Research  Theoretical Research: Generally uses the findings from existing works to develop new ideas through analyzing existing theory explanations.  Empirical Research: Supports the development of new ideas through the collection of data.

Misconceptions  Research is not simply the gathering of existing information. “Reading an article and taking notes is not research.  Neither is research simply the collection of new data. Simply going out and asking a group a question is not research.  Research is not setting out to prove an opinion, based on personal experience.

Misconceptions Cont.  Research is not necessarily the production of something completely original.  Research does not always involve a problem. It can be used to advance the scope of human knowledge.

Understanding Sports Research  By far the best way to begin the develop your initial understanding is to read a variety of actual research.  Find a topic that interests you.  Narrow your ideas.

How To Read Research  Locate and read a few articles within a field you are comfortable with.  Read studies that are of interest to you.  Read the abstract first.  Identify the research question and objectives.  Why did the researcher(s) choose a particular setting or sample? Where was the data collected? Who from? What were the strengths and/ or limitations of this choice.

How To Read Research Cont.  What were the methods chosen to collect data? How were the data collected? Why was this method or methods chosen?  What were the most important findings? How do they relate to the overall research?  Do not be over-concerned with statistical analysis. Simply determine the general meaning of the results.

How To Read Research Cont.  Be critical but objective. Try to assess, however, the strengths and limitations of the research.  Learn about research by undertaking it yourself.

Key Term  Abstract: Research reports often commence with and abstract. A short section generally outlining the aims of the research, methods of data collection, and the sample from which the data was collected. Roughly words.

Assignment  Determine what topic or area you would like to research.  Find at least two research articles about or similar to your topic.  Compare the two articles in a summary. It must be no less than one page. APA format, site your sources. In a bibliography.