Research Methods in Physical Activity

by Thomas, Jerry R.; Nelson, Jack K.

• ISBN13: 9780880114813
• ISBN10: 0880114819
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1996-04-01
• Publisher: Human Kinetics

Summary

This latest edition of Research Methods in Physical Activity does not rest on its laurels as the leading research methods text. The authors have updated this internationally recognized resource in order to provide the following benefits: Shed new light on the research process, particularly regarding use of library facilities, Enhance students' understanding of basic statistical calculations and the relevance of their uses, Present a major revision to the chapter on qualitative research and contributions from eminent scholars to the chapters on historical, epidemiology, and philosophic research, Increase students' understanding of how to write research reports, Carry the readers through the book by introducing three graduate students studying research methods, one of whom brings a special comical spin to the material

Author Biography

Jerry R. Thomas has taught research methods at the master's and doctoral level at three major research universities - Florida State University, Louisiana State University, and now Arizona State University.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. xi
Acknowledgments	p. xv
Overview of the Research Process	p. 1
Introduction to Research in Physical Activity	p. 3
The Nature of Research	p. 3
Unscientific Versus Scientific Methods of Problem Solving	p. 10
Alternative Models of Research	p. 14
Types of Research	p. 17
Overview of the Research Process	p. 20
Summary	p. 22
Developing the Problem and Using the Literature	p. 25
Identifying the Research Problem	p. 25
Purpose of the Literature Review	p. 29
Basic Literature Search Strategies	p. 31
Steps in the Literature Search	p. 32
Summary	p. 49
Presenting the Problem	p. 51
Choosing the Title	p. 51
Writing the Introduction	p. 52
Stating the Research Problem	p. 54
Presenting the Research Hypothesis	p. 56
Operationally Defining Your Terms	p. 57
Basic Assumptions, Delimitations, and Limitations	p. 58
Justifying the Significance of the Study	p. 59
The Differences Between the Thesis and the Research Article	p. 61
Summary	p. 61
Formulating the Method	p. 63
How to Present Methodological Details	p. 64
Why Planning the Method Is Important	p. 64
Two Principles for Planning Experiments	p. 64
Describing Participants	p. 65
Describing Instruments	p. 67
Describing Procedures	p. 68
Describing Design and Analysis	p. 72
Establishing Cause and Effect	p. 73
Interaction of Participants, Measurements, and Treatments	p. 74
Summary	p. 75
Ethical Issues in Research and Scholarship	p. 77
Seven Areas of Scientific Dishonesty	p. 77
Ethical Issues Regarding Copyright	p. 83
Model for Considering Scientific Misconduct	p. 85
Working With Faculty	p. 86
Protecting Human Participants	p. 88
Protecting Animal Subjects	p. 90
Summary	p. 91
Statistical and Measurement Concepts in Research	p. 95
Becoming Acquainted With Statistical Concepts	p. 97
Why We Need Statistics	p. 97
Use of Computers in Statistical Analysis	p. 99
Description and Inference Are Not Statistical Techniques	p. 99
Ways to Select a Sample	p. 99
Justifying Post Hoc Explanations	p. 101
Difficulty of Random Sampling and Assignment: How Good Does It Have to Be?	p. 101
Unit of Analysis	p. 102
Measures of Central Tendency and Variability	p. 103
Basic Concepts of Statistical Techniques	p. 107
Summary	p. 110
Statistical Issues in Research Planning and Evaluation	p. 113
Probability	p. 113
Meaningfulness (Effect Size)	p. 115
Power	p. 116
Using Information in the Context of the Study	p. 119
Reporting Statistical Data	p. 122
Summary	p. 123
Relationships Among Variables	p. 125
What Correlational Research Investigates	p. 125
Understanding the Nature of Correlation	p. 126
What the Coefficient of Correlation Means	p. 132
Using Correlation for Prediction	p. 135
Partial Correlation	p. 138
Uses of Semipartial Correlation	p. 139
Procedures for Multiple Regression	p. 139
Multivariate Forms of Correlation	p. 141
Summary	p. 144
Differences Among Groups	p. 147
How Statistics Test Differences	p. 147
Types of t Tests	p. 149
Interpreting t	p. 154
Relationship of t and r	p. 157
Analysis of Variance	p. 157
Analysis of Covariance	p. 171
Experimentwise Error Rate	p. 171
Understanding Multivariate Techniques	p. 172
Summary	p. 176
Nonparametric Techniques	p. 179
Chi Square: Testing the Observed Versus the Expected	p. 181
Procedures for Rank-Order Data	p. 185
Correlation	p. 186
Differences Among Groups	p. 188
Summary	p. 191
Measuring Research Variables	p. 193
Validity	p. 193
Reliability	p. 197
Methods of Establishing Reliability	p. 200
Intertester Reliability (Objectivity)	p. 202
Standard Error of Measurement	p. 202
Using Standard Scores to Compare Performance	p. 204
Measuring Movement	p. 205
Measuring Written Responses	p. 205
Measuring Affective Behavior	p. 205
Scales for Measuring Affective Behavior	p. 207
Measuring Knowledge	p. 209
Item Response Theory	p. 210
Summary	p. 211
Types of Research	p. 213
Historical Research in Physical Activity	p. 215
Research Paradigms	p. 215
Lines of Inquiry and Topics	p. 217
Designing the Research	p. 220
Working With the Evidence	p. 220
Summary	p. 228
Philosophic Research in Physical Activity	p. 231
Identifying the Purposes of Philosophic Research	p. 232
Locating a Research Problem	p. 235
Analyzing a Research Problem	p. 236
Summary	p. 243
Research Synthesis (Meta-Analysis)	p. 247
Using Meta-Analysis to Synthesize Research	p. 248
Presenting Effect Size Data	p. 256
Summary	p. 257
The Survey	p. 269
The Questionnaire	p. 269
The Delphi Method	p. 280
The Personal Interview	p. 281
The Normative Survey	p. 284
Summary	p. 284
Other Descriptive Research Methods	p. 287
Developmental Research	p. 287
The Case Study	p. 290
Job Analysis	p. 293
Observational Research	p. 293
Unobtrusive Research Techniques	p. 297
Correlational Research	p. 298
Summary	p. 299
Physical Activity Epidemiology Research	p. 301
Observational Versus Experimental Research	p. 303
What Is Epidemiology?	p. 303
Physical Activity Measurement Definitions	p. 305
Assessment of Physical Activity	p. 306
Epidemiologic Study Designs	p. 309
Reading and Interpreting a Physical Activity Epidemiologic Study	p. 318
Summary	p. 320
Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Research	p. 321
Sources of Invalidity	p. 322
Threats to Internal Validity	p. 323
Threats to External Validity	p. 326
Controlling Threats to Internal Validity	p. 327
Controlling Threats to External Validity	p. 329
Types of Designs	p. 330
Summary	p. 343
Qualitative Research	p. 345
Contrasting Characteristics of Qualitative and Quantitative Research	p. 346
Procedures in Qualitative Research	p. 347
Analysis of the Data	p. 352
Concluding Remarks	p. 362
Summary	p. 363
Writing the Research Report	p. 365
Completing the Research Process	p. 367
Research Proposal	p. 367
Developing a Good Introduction	p. 367
Describing the Method	p. 368
The Proposal Process	p. 369
Preparing and Presenting Qualitative Research Proposals	p. 372
Writing Proposals for Granting Agencies	p. 373
Submitting Internal Proposals	p. 374
Completing Your Thesis or Dissertation	p. 374
Results and Discussion	p. 374
How to Handle Multiple Experiments in a Single Report	p. 378
How to Use Tables and Figures	p. 379
Summary	p. 386
Ways of Reporting Research	p. 389
Basic Writing Guidelines	p. 389
A Brief Word About Acknowledgments	p. 390
Thesis and Dissertation Format: Traditional Versus Journal	p. 390
Helpful Hints for Successful Journal Writing	p. 397
Writing Abstracts	p. 398
Making Oral and Poster Presentations	p. 401
Summary	p. 404
	p. 405
Statistical Tables	p. 405
A Brief Historical Overview of Research in Physical Activity in the United States	p. 418
Sample Consent Forms	p. 422
References	p. 432
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