Chapter 1 Flashcards - Intro to Research Methods
Understanding how knowledge within a field is generated is important because…?
Allows us the skills to critique existing bodies of literature as well providing background needed to answer RQ’s that have yet to be answered.
Sometimes what we know is based on our own experiences. What is the issue with that?
Limited experience if it is personal and it can vary substantially
What does Kinesiology refer to?
The study of movement
* Diverse field inclusive of a wide range of subdisciplines and professions
* Research easily recognized as core to discipline
The terms science and research are commonly used by researchers in Kine, but what do they actually mean?
Science: Discovery of knowledge
Research: Specific method used to discover knowledge
What are the three different approaches to research and how are they different?
Quantitative (number), Qualitative (non-numerical), Mixed Methods (Both)
- Differ in underlying assumptions, types of questions asked, specific methods used, type of data that results, analysis of the data
What are quantitative research designs best suited for?
Best suited to questions relating to testing of theory, status on variables, differences among groups
Data should be generated as precise as possible
Example of quantitative research in the textbook about Moreside and McGill (2012)
Recruited students at UofW for hip-joint ROM intervention study. Randomizing groups & found that objectivity was obtained through this as well as measurements of key variables done by research assistant who did not share it with the primary researcher to keep objectivity
Note: Quantitative b/c data collection methods resulted in numerical data that were analyzed using stats to answer RQ
What is qualitative research well suited for?
Understanding people’s meanings of experiences and it is often emergent & flexible
Note: Themes generate from the data collected and researcher is recognized as being an integral part of the research process
Example of Qualitative research used in the textbook?
Exploring P.A. of young adolescent girls by interviewing, participating with the girls in activities to gain their trust and transcribing the data into a verbatim (typed out word for word)
Note: Themes will arise such as: 1) Physical activity lets girls shine 2) “Taking care of myself, inside and out”
What is Mixed Methods Research and what is best suited for?
Combination of quantitative and qualitative, best suited for studies that proritize one over the other (sequential), or conducted simultaneously (concurrent)
Note: Used by researchers to see the value in using both quantitative and qualitative data to answer their RQ
Research has two meanings. What are they?
Research as a verb: Follow a logical process that uses concepts, principles and techniques to produce knowledge
Research as a noun: A collection of information representing what we know about a particular topic
Remember: It’s about finding solutions to problems or discovering new knowledge in a logical, orderly, and systematic fashion
Where could research be found?
- Academic and scholarly journals
- Research monographs
- Textbooks
- Journals/Newspaper/Magazines
- Corporate research reports
- Legislative action and policy actions
- Databases
What is a peer review?
Reseachers knowledgable about a particular area are asked to review or comment on another researcher’s work and recommend if it should be published
Enhances quality of research
Research is important when we want…?
- Respond to critical social problems
- Allocate limited resources wisely
- Base policy decisions on evidence rather than ideology
Characteristics of research include?
- Generated by specific question, hypothesis or problem
- Follows specific plan or procedure - research process
- Empirical - reaches conclusions based on evidence
- Requires reasoned argument to support conclusions
- Continual - based on previous knowledge and may develop further RQ’s