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Qualitative Research in Physical Activity and the Health Professions PDF

Qualitative Research in Physical Activity and the Health Professions PDF

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$57.95 CAD


 

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    Qualitative research is increasingly more common in the health professions, but most general research texts are limited in their discussion of the guiding principles of qualitative research. As a result, it is difficult for students and practitioners in the fields of athletic training, physical education, fitness, and health to sort out and apply the concepts involved in this method of research. Qualitative Research in Physical Activity and the Health Professions puts to rest any confusion or misunderstanding about this type of research. The text clearly explains the underlying principles of qualitative inquiry, making it easy for students and practitioners to understand how to design, conduct, and evaluate qualitative research studies. Written by two authors who have conducted numerous qualitative studies, taught graduate-level research courses, and advised many master’s and doctoral students who have used qualitative methods in their pursuits, this text provides a focused approach to qualitative research for students and professionals in the physical activity and health care fields:
    • Numerous pedagogical aids facilitate the learning process, including Learning Objectives, Dialogue Boxes that feature students’ questions in a Q&A format, Take-Home Messages that summarize each chapter, Learning Activities that students may perform on their own time as an assignment, and Checking Your Knowledge sections that feature multiple-choice questions.
    • The more familiar quantitative designs are contrasted with qualitative ones, making it easy for readers to follow the flow of information and make associations about how the two methods complement one another.
    • Examples from current literature accentuate the essential components of an authentic qualitative research study, including observations, interviews, open-ended questions, and a format for analyzing data.
    • Actual published articles are provided so that students can evaluate qualitative research methods.
    Through Qualitative Research in Physical Activity and the Health Professions, readers learn how to frame a researchable problem, how to develop questions to gain insight that specifically applies to the problem, and how to guide the procedures for data collection and analysis. The authors first present an overview of qualitative research and then explain the essential aspects of planning and designing the research. They address the modes of data collection and how to create a trustworthy study. They then discuss how to write qualitative research proposals and reports. Finally, they assist those who want to expand their knowledge of qualitative research by discussing the various forms and guiding readers in becoming good consumers of research. They also help readers deal with common challenges and criticisms of qualitative inquiry and provide suggested learning activities and supplemental reading. The result is a text that demystifies this very applicable type of research. Qualitative Research in Physical Activity and the Health Professions will greatly appeal to physical activity and health students and professionals alike as they seek to learn how to use qualitative research in their work.

    Audience

    Reference for researchers and practitioners in athletic training, physical activity, physical therapy, and occupational therapy, as well as professionals in the fitness and health fields. Also a text for upper-undergraduate and graduate students who are learning concepts and principles applied to qualitative research.
    Part I. Overview of Qualitative Research

    Chapter 1. Introducing Qualitative Inquiry
    The General Nature of Research
    Quantitative and Qualitative Inquiry
    Attributes of Qualitative Research
    Considerations, Contemplations, and Consternations
    Summary

    Chapter 2. Dissecting the Anatomy of a Qualitative Research Study
    Recognizing a Qualitative Research Study
    Identifying the Components of a Qualitative Research Study
    Summary

    Part II. Conducting a Qualitative Research Study

    Chapter 3. Conceptualizing Your Study
    Formulating a Research Plan
    Designing an Introduction
    Assembling a Literature Review
    Summary

    Chapter 4. Collecting and Analyzing Qualitative Data
    An Overview of the Interpretive Process
    Participants and Sampling
    Qualitative Data Collection
    Qualitative Data Analysis
    Summary

    Chapter 5. Ensuring Trustworthiness
    The Concept of Trustworthiness
    Ensuring Trustworthiness
    Additional Considerations About Trustworthiness
    Summary

    Chapter 6. Attending to Ethical Issues
    Research Ethics Overview
    Regulation of Research
    Principles of Research Ethics
    Additional Considerations
    Institutional Review of Research
    Summary

    Part III. Writing Qualitative Research

    Chapter 7. Learning to Put Your Research Plan Together
    Components of a Proposal
    Oral Presentation for an Academic Proposal
    Summary

    Chapter 8. Writing Your Results and Discussing Your Findings
    Components of a Research Report
    Presenting Your Results
    The Discussion
    The Final Review of the Entire Study
    Summary

    Part IV. Continuing Your Qualitative Research Journey

    Chapter 9. Understanding Forms of Qualitative Research
    Basic Qualitative Research and Beyond
    Grounded Theory
    Ethnography
    Phenomenology
    Additional Forms of Qualitative Research
    Summary

    Chapter 10. Being a Good Consumer of Qualitative Research
    Evaluating Research
    Begin With the Fab Five
    Dig Into a More In-Depth Evaluation With the Top 10
    Conduct a Full Review With the Thought-Provoking 33
    Recognizing Specific Forms of Qualitative Research
    Summary

    Chapter 11. Looking Back and Moving Forward
    Looking Back
    Defending Your Qualitative Research
    Combining Methods to Address Research Issues
    Using the Practical Toolbox
    Summary
    William A. Pitney, EdD, ATC, is an associate professor in the department of kinesiology and physical education at Northern Illinois University. Dr. Pitney is a recognized leader in qualitative research in the athletic training profession. He has authored more than 20 peer-reviewed articles and two textbooks and is a section editor for the Journal of Athletic Training, in which he published one of the first articles on qualitative research. He is also the associate editor for the Athletic Training Education Journal and has served on the Great Lakes Athletic Trainers’ Association Research Assistance Committee.

    Dr. Pitney earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education with a specialization in athletic training from Indiana State University in 1988, a master’s degree in physical education from Eastern Michigan University in 1992, and an EdD in adult continuing education from Northern Illinois University in 2000. In his leisure time, he enjoys mountaineering, bicycling, and running.

    Jenny Parker, EdD, is an associate professor in the department of kinesiology and physical education at Northern Illinois University. Dr. Parker has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and two book chapters and has presented at the state, regional, and national levels. She is a reviewer for Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, and she has obtained both internal and external research and instructional grant funding. Her experience with qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method research studies greatly aided in shaping the book, as did her teaching expertise in providing pedagogical aspects and learning activities.

    Dr. Parker earned her bachelor’s degree in physical education at the College of St. Paul and St. Mary in England and earned her master’s degree in physical education teaching analysis from the University of Oregon in 1991. She earned her EdD in physical education teacher education from the University of Massachusetts in 1996. She received an Outstanding Educator Award in the College of Education at Northern Illinois University in 2008 and has been recognized nationally for her mentoring of undergraduate and graduate physical education students.

    “This book is ideal for novice qualitative researchers. Not only does it serve as a great reference tool, it also provides basic valuable information on qualitative research for those who conduct quantitative research.”

    Doody’s Book Review