Designing and Conducting Research in Health and Human Performance

Designing and Conducting Research in Health and Human Performance shows students how to become effective producers and consumers of health and human performance research. The book provides comprehensive coverage of both quantitative and qualitative research methods and includes step-by-step guidance for writing effective research proposals and theses. In addition, the authors show how to read, assess, interpret, and apply published research and how to conduct basic studies in health, physical education, exercise science, athletic training, and recreation. Designing and Conducting Research in Health and Human Performance is filled with illustrative examples that emphasize the real-world applications of research methods. Throughout, the authors draw on a variety of examples that were selected because they provide a context to further the understanding of health and human performance research. Research to Practice examples and Tips are included by the authors to help students better appreciate the book's content. These study aids provide suggestions and additional resources to assist students in understanding the research process. Key Terms, defined and highlighted, enrich each chapter. Chapter Review Questions, designed to help students comprehend and follow best practices in research methods, close each chapter. Online resources and guides developed by the authors to support and enhance students' learning of important research concepts are available.

Table of Contents:
Tables and Figures xi Preface xiii Acknowledgments xv The Authors xvii Part 1 Understanding Important Research Concepts 1 Introduction to Research in Health and Human Performance 3 What You’ll Learn 3 Defining the Research Process 4 Research Continuum: Applied and Basic Research 10 Summary 14 Review Questions 15 Key Terms 15 2 Concepts in Research Designs 17 What You’ll Learn 17 Overview of Research Designs 18 Understanding Research Variables 20 Measuring Research Variables 24 Interpreting Research Designs 26 Summary 29 Review Questions 30 Key Terms 31 Part 2 Reviewing the Literature 3 Developing Your Research Topic and Interpreting Research Reports 35 What You’ll Learn 35 Identifying the Problem 35 Accessing Sources 44 Reading and Interpreting Research Reports 51 Summary 56 Review Questions 57 Key Terms 57 4 Writing the Review of Literature 59 What You’ll Learn 59 Developing an Outline 60 Writing Scientifically 69 Summary 79 Review Questions 80 Key Terms 80 Part 3 Understanding and Developing Research Designs 5 Quantitative Research Designs 83 What You’ll Learn 83 Descriptive Research Designs 84 Experimental Research Designs 96 Correlation Research Designs 102 Summary 104 Review Questions 105 Key Terms 105 6 Qualitative Research Designs 107 What You’ll Learn 107 Characteristics of Qualitative Research 107 Procedures in Qualitative Research 113 Types of Qualitative Research Designs 120 Summary 126 Review Questions 128 Key Terms 128 7 Mixed-Methods and Action Research Designs 129 What You’ll Learn 129 Overview of Mixed-Methods Research Designs 129 Framework for Mixed-Methods Research Designs 132 Action Research 138 Summary 142 Review Questions 144 Key Terms 144 8 Ethics in Research 145 What You’ll Learn 145 Ethics Within Research 146 Summary 159 Review Questions 160 Key Terms 160 9 Developing Your Research Proposal 161 What You’ll Learn 161 Sampling 162 Writing Your Introduction 168 Developing Your Methods 174 Summary 179 Review Questions 179 Key Terms 180 Part 4 Exploring Measurement and Analysis 10 Validity, Reliability, Objectivity 183 What You’ll Learn 183 Validity Concepts 184 Reliability Concepts 195 Objectivity Concepts 200 Summary 201 Review Questions 202 Key Terms 203 11 Introduction to Statistics and Hypothesis Testing 205 What You’ll Learn 205 Introduction to Statistics 206 Descriptive Statistics 215 Hypothesis Testing 219 Summary 224 Review Questions 225 Key Terms 225 12 Quantitative Data Analysis 227 What You’ll Learn 227 Inferential Statistics 227 Examining Relationships 230 Examining Differences 236 Examining Type I and Type II Errors 247 Summary 248 Review Questions 249 Key Terms 249 13 Qualitative Analysis: Interpreting the Data 251 What You’ll Learn 251 Recording Your Data 251 Managing Your Data 253 Writing the Report 258 Trustworthiness of the Data 265 Summary 267 Review Questions 268 Key Terms 269 14 Results and Discussion: Writing What You Found 271 What You’ll Learn 271 Results Section 272 Discussion Section 275 Writing Your Abstract 279 Summary 280 Review Questions 281 Part 5 Putting It All Together 15 Presenting Your Research 285 What You’ll Learn 285 Poster Presentations 286 Oral Presentation 295 Summary 301 Review Questions 301 Glossary 303 References 311 Index 319

About the Author :
Tracey Dexter Matthews, DPE, is professor and department chair in the Exercise Science and Sports Studies Department at Springfield College, Springfield, Massachusetts. Kimberly T. Kostelis, DPE, is an associate professor in the Department of Physical Education and Human Performance at Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, Connecticut.