Research Methods in Physical Activity

Research Methods in Physical Activity, Eighth Edition, systematically guides students through the research process, introducing research methods, tools, and analysis techniques specifically for kinesiology and exercise science disciplines, including the subdisciplines of physical therapy, rehabilitation, and occupational therapy. The eighth edition continues its legacy with the authors’ trademark humor and is now enhanced with a new full-color layout.

This reputable text provides step-by-step information for every aspect of the research process. Part I presents an overview of the research process, from preparing the research plan to understanding ethical issues in research and writing. Part II introduces statistical and measurement issues in research. Part III presents various approaches to research and methodology—including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods—while scholarly contributors offer advice for addressing sociohistorical, experimental, epidemiological, and philosophical research questions. Part IV details how to develop and organize research papers and presentations, and it includes guidance for describing results for publication in a scientific journal. Statistical tables and guides are available in the appendix.

Joining longtime authors Jerry Thomas, EdD, and Stephen Silverman, EdD, are Philip Martin, PhD, and Jennifer Etnier, PhD, who bring fresh perspectives from the subdisciplines of biomechanics and sport and exercise psychology. Other enhancements to the eighth edition include the following:

• References have been updated throughout the text to present current research.
• Part II has undergone a major revision that makes statistical techniques more accessible.
• A new section on the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans and other public health initiatives demonstrates epidemiology research in action.
• The chapter on philosophical research contains new issues from our increasingly diverse world, challenging students to think deeply.
• The full-color layout fosters an engaging learning experience and offers an enhanced data presentation.

Research Methods in Physical Activity, Eighth Edition, employs learning aids that make the technical aspects of the research process approachable and easy to understand. Photos, anecdotes, and humorous stories throughout the text highlight practical applications to keep students engaged. A running glossary and key points emphasize important content. Review questions and prompts invite students to assess and apply their knowledge.

Research Methods in Physical Activity, Eighth Edition, instills in students the confidence to devise, collect, analyze, and present their research in a competent manner. It is an essential text for all emerging researchers in physical activity.

Jerry Thomas, EdD, retired in 2016 from the University of North Texas, where he served as a professor and dean of the College of Education. He has authored more than 200 publications, 120 of which are in refereed journals. In 1999 SHAPE America named him the C.H. McCloy Lecturer for his production of research throughout his career. Thomas has been editor in chief of Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport and a reviewer for most major research journals in kinesiology and numerous journals in psychology. He has also served as president of the National Academy of Kinesiology (NAK), founding president of American Kinesiology Association (AKA), AAHPERD Research Consortium (now SHAPE America), and North American Society for Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA). In 1990 he was named an AAHPERD Alliance Scholar and in 2003 was named a NASPSPA Distinguished Scholar based on lifetime achievement in research. Thomas received an honorary doctorate of science from his undergraduate institution, Furman University, in the spring of 2015.

Philip Martin, PhD, is a professor emeritus in the department of kinesiology at Iowa State University. Previously, he served as the head of the department of kinesiology at Penn State and as chair of exercise science and physical education at Arizona State University in Tempe. Martin’s research activities have addressed mechanical factors influencing the economy and efficiency of walking, running, and cycling. He has authored 80 research articles and book chapters and presented at regional, national, and international professional meetings. Martin is an active member and fellow of the American Society of Biomechanics (ASB), the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), and the National Academy of Kinesiology (NAK). He serves on the board of directors and the executive board of the American Kinesiology Association (AKA). He is a former president of the NAK and the ABS and former vice president of the AKA. He has also served on the editorial board of the International Journal of Sport Biomechanics, as an associate editor for the Journal of Applied Biomechanics, and as a biomechanics section editor for Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport. Additionally, he served on the scientific advisory committee for the U.S. Olympic Committee Sports Medicine Council.

Jennifer L. Etnier, PhD, is a Julia Taylor Morton Distinguished Professor and chair of the department of kinesiology at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she has received the Health and Human Performance Teaching Award and UNCG Alumni Teaching Excellence Award. Etnier’s research focuses on the cognitive benefits of physical activity. She has authored over 90 peer-reviewed research articles and contributed to over 20 book chapters and editorials. She is also the author of two books for the lay public focused on the youth sport experience: Bring Your “A” Game and Coaching for the Love of the Game. Etnier is a past president of the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA), where she had previously served on the executive board. She is a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the National Academy of Kinesiology (NAK), where she also served as member-at-large. Etnier serves on the editorial board for the Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology and the Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, where she previously served as editor in chief.

Steve Silverman, EdD, is a professor of education and senior advisor to the provost for research preparation at Teachers College at Columbia University. He has taught and written about research methods for more than 30 years and has conducted research on teaching in physical education focusing on how children learn motor skill and develop attitudes. He has published more than 80 research articles in addition to many books and book chapters. Silverman is a fellow and past president of the National Academy of Kinesiology (NAK) and the AAHPERD Research Consortium (now SHAPE America) and a fellow of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). A former coeditor of the Journal of Teaching in Physical Education and former 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 and Alliance Scholar for AAHPERD. In 2010, he was inducted into the Kinesiology and Health Education Hall of Honor at the University of Texas at Austin.