Applied research and evaluation methods in Recreation »

Diane C. Blankenship, EdD, is an associate professor at Frostburg State University in Frostburg, Maryland, where she teaches courses in research methods in the recreation and parks management program. She also serves on the program’s graduate thesis and project committee.

Blankenship has extensive and varied experience, having worked as a professional Boy Scout and a recreation therapist; in residential camps, aquatic facilities, recreation centers, and outdoor recreation facilities; and for the Department of the Army in Germany.

Blankenship has used her skills in recreation and leisure research methods to assist local and state organizations in the evaluation of their programs and facilities and in strategic planning. She is a member of the Maryland Recreation and Parks Association (MRPA) and has served numerous times on the conference committee and as the coordinator of data analysis for all conference evaluations. In addition, she serves as a site visitor for the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) and as a recreation commissioner for the City of Frostburg.

In her free time, Blankenship enjoys walking rail-trails, knitting, and traveling with her daughter to Native American reservations. She and her husband, Calvin, and their daughter reside in Frostburg.

Applied Research and Evaluation Methods in Recreation

is the only text that integrates research, evaluation, and basic statistical analysis and links these concepts directly to the field. Using a logical format and accessible language, the book presents students with the foundational knowledge they need to move through the research process.

1 Investigative Overview 1

2 The Research and Evaluation Process 11

3 The Research Problem 27

4 Review of Literature 43

5 Variables and Hypotheses in Study Designs 53

6 Ethics in Research 71

7 Sampling 81

8 Instrumentation 97

9 Data Collection Tools 111

10 Internal Validity 129

11 Data Analysis 145

12 The Research Report 167

Glossary 175

Bibliography 183

Index 185