Research Methods in Physical Activity » (6th Edition)

Jerry R. Thomas, EdD, is professor and dean of the College of Education at the University of North Texas. Besides writing the previous editions of this book, Thomas has authored more than 200 publications, over 120 of which are refereed publications, with numerous contributions in research methods. Awarded the C.H. McCloy Lecturer in 1999, based on his career research production, Thomas has served as editor in chief for Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport and as a reviewer for most major research journals in kinesiology and numerous journals in psychology. He has also served as president of the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education, American Kinesiology Association, AAHPERD Research Consortium, and of the North American Society for Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity. He was named an AAHPERD Alliance Scholar in 1990 and NASPSPA Distinguished Scholar in 2003, based on lifetime achievement in research.

Jack K. Nelson, EdD, is professor emeritus in the department of kinesiology at Louisiana State University. Nelson conducted and published research and taught research methods for 35 years. He has advised more than 50 doctoral dissertations and more than 50 masters' theses. In addition, he has more than 80 publications and has served as editor of research publications. A fellow in the Research Consortium, he has been a member of AAHPERD, the American Educational Research Association, and the American College of Sports Medicine. He has also served as president of the Association for Research, Administration, Professional Councils and Societies (now AAALF) and as vice president of AAHPERD.

Stephen Silverman, EdD, has taught and written about research methods for over 25 years. He is a professor of education at Teachers College, Columbia University, and he has conducted research on teaching in physical education focusing on how children learn motor skill and develop attitudes. He has published more than 60 research articles in addition to many books and book chapters. Silverman is a fellow and past president of both the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education and the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) Research Consortium, and a fellow of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). A former coeditor of the Journal of Teaching in Physical Education and editor in chief of the Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, Silverman was an AERA Physical Education Scholar Lecturer, a Research Consortium Scholar Lecturer, and Weiss Lecturer for AAHPERD.

Research Methods in Physical Activity, Sixth Edition, presents an engaging overview of the research process and available methods for students researching within all subdisciplines of kinesiology and exercise science as well as physical therapy, rehabilitation, and occupational therapy.

Part I: Overview of the Research Process

Chapter 1: Introduction to Research in Physical Activity

The Nature of Research

Unscientific Versus Scientific Methods of Problem Solving

Alternative Models of Research

Types of Research

Overview of the Research Process

Parts of a Thesis: A Reflection on the Steps in the Research Process

Summary

Chapter 2: Developing the Problem and Using the Literature

Identifying the Research Problem

Purpose of the Literature Review

Basic Literature Search Strategies

Steps in the Literature Search

Summary

Chapter 3: Presenting the Problem

Choosing the Title

Writing the Introduction

Stating the Research Problem

Presenting the Research Hypothesis

Operationally Defining Your Terms

Basic Assumptions, Delimitations, and Limitations

Justifying the Significance of the Study

Differences Between the Thesis and the Research Article

Summary

Chapter 4: Formulating the Method

How to Present Methodological Details

Why Planning the Method Is Important

Two Principles for Planning Experiments

Describing Participants

Describing Instruments

Describing Procedures

Describing Design and Analysis

Establishing Cause and Effect

Interaction of Participants, Measurements, and Treatments

Summary

Chapter 5: Ethical Issues in Research and Scholarship

Seven Areas of Scientific Dishonesty

Ethical Issues Regarding Copyright

Model for Considering Scientific Misconduct

Working With Faculty

Protecting Human Participants

Protecting Animal Subjects

Summary

Part II: Statistical and Measurement Concepts in Research

Chapter 6: Becoming Acquainted With Statistical Concepts

Why We Need Statistics

Use of Computers in Statistical Analysis

Description and Inference Are Not Statistical Techniques

Ways to Select a Sample

Justifying Post Hoc Explanations

Difficulty of Random Sampling and Assignment: How Good Does It Have to Be?

Unit of Analysis

Measures of Central Tendency and Variability

Basic Concepts of Statistical Techniques

Data for Use in the Remaining Statistical Chapters

Summary

Chapter 7: Statistical Issues in Research Planning and Evaluation

Probability

Meaningfulness (Effect Size)

Power

Using Information in the Context of the Study

Summary

Chapter 8: Relationships Among Variables

What Correlational Research Investigates

Understanding the Nature of Correlation

What the Coefficient of Correlation Means

Using Correlation for Prediction

Partial Correlation

Uses of Semipartial Correlation

Procedures for Multiple Regression

Multivariate Forms of Correlation

Summary

Chapter 9: Differences Among Groups

How Statistics Test Differences

Types of t Tests

Interpreting t

Relationship of t and r

Analysis of Variance

Analysis of Covariance

Experimentwise Error Rate

Understanding Multivariate Techniques

Summary

Chapter 10: Nonparametric Techniques

Chi Square: Testing the Observed Versus the Expected

Procedures for Rank-Order Data

Correlation

Differences Among Groups

Summary

Chapter 11: Measuring Research Variables

Validity

Reliability

Methods of Establishing Reliability

Intertester Reliability (Objectivity)

Standard Error of Measurement

Using Standard Scores to Compare Performance

Measuring Movement

Measuring Written Responses

Measuring Affective Behavior

Scales for Measuring Affective Behavior

Measuring Knowledge

Item Response Theory

Summary

Part III: Types of Research

Chapter 12: Historical Research in Physical Activity

Research Paradigms

Lines of Inquiry and Topics

Designing the Research

Working With the Evidence

Summary

Chapter 13: Philosophic Research in Physical Activity

Identifying the Purposes of Philosophic Research

Locating a Research Problem

Analyzing a Research Problem

Summary

Chapter 14: Research Synthesis (Meta-Analysis)

Using Meta-Analysis to Synthesize Research

Presenting Effect Size Data

Summary

Chapter 15: The Survey

Questionnaires

Electronic Surveys

The Delphi Method

Personal Interviews

Normative Survey

Summary

Chapter 16: Other Descriptive Research Methods

Developmental Research

Case Studies

Job Analysis

Observational Research

Unobtrusive Research Techniques

Correlational Research

Summary

Chapter 17: Physical Activity Epidemiology Research

Observational Versus Experimental Research

What Is Epidemiology?

Physical Activity Measurement Definitions

Assessment of Physical Activity

Epidemiologic Study Designs

Reading and Interpreting a Physical Activity Epidemiologic Study

Summary

Chapter 18: Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Research

Sources of Invalidity

Threats to Internal Validity

Threats to External Validity

Controlling Threats to Internal Validity

Controlling Threats to External Validity

Types of Designs

Summary

Chapter 19: Qualitative Research

Procedures in Qualitative Research

Analysis of the Data

Concluding Remarks

Summary

Chapter 20: Mixed-Methods Research

The Scope of Mixed-Methods Research

Designing Mixed-Methods Research

Specific Issues in Mixed-Methods Research

Examples of Mixed-Methods Research

Summary

Part IV: Writing the Research Report

Chapter 21: Completing the Research Process

Research Proposal

Developing a Good Introduction

Describing the Method

The Proposal Process

Preparing and Presenting Qualitative Research Proposals

Writing Proposals for Granting Agencies

Submitting Internal Proposals

Completing Your Thesis or Dissertation

Results and Discussion

Handling Multiple Experiments in a Single Report

Using Tables and Figures

Summary

Chapter 22: Ways of Reporting Research

Basic Writing Guidelines

A Brief Word About Acknowledgments

Thesis and Dissertation Format: Traditional Versus Journal

Helpful Hints for Successful Journal Writing

Revising Research Papers

Writing Abstracts

Making Oral and Poster Presentations

Summary