Research Methodology in Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation module

Course Type
Postgraduate, Continuing professional development, Module
  • Course details

Key module information

Term of study:

Term 1 (distance learning or face-to-face) - dates are provisional

  • 20 September 2018 (introduction)
  • 11 October 2018
  • 7, 8 , 9 November 2018

Timetable:

Face 2 Face blocks and distance learning

Credits:

20

Module Overview

This module allows students the opportunity to further develop their research skills within sport, physical activity and rehabilitation. The course covers the practical usage and critical analysis of different research methodologies.

The content will include a focus on positionality, research writing, research questions, design, data gathering, interpretation and data analysis, reporting, ethics, and issues such as sampling, carrying out research, working in different social and cultural settings, applying findings to practice. The lecturers will draw on studies that utilised empirical data collection as well as review based research.

The module will provide students with an essential understanding of conducting research in a real world sport/physical activity/rehabilitation environment and will provide a firm grounding for their masters’ dissertation research.

Delivery

The module is delivered through a blend of intensive blocks of face to face teaching, web based distance learning, personal study time, independent study, group and individual problem solving tasks. At the first face 2 face session convenient times will be established for webinar sessions.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the module students should be able to:

  • Demonstrate and advanced understanding of positionality in relation to research questions, design and conduct
  • Critically evaluate the key research methodologies in their field of study
  • Through critical analysis identify appropriate methods of data collection and analysis for different types of research
  • Critically evaluate the wider issues surrounding research (e.g. ethics, research governance)
  • Design research using advanced methods to answer current practical and theoretical questions in their area of study

Assessment

Assessment 1 - Written assignment (30% of overall mark). The assessment provides an opportunity for the student to consider their philosophical position relating to the research they conduct. This assessment is due first.

Assessment 2 - Proposal of Research (70% of overall mark). The assessment provides an opportunity for the student to develop a grant proposal. 

  1. Module Organisers

Dr Andrew Soundy

Readings

Students will find reference to some of the texts below useful in addressing the content of this module. This list is not intended to be exhaustive or all of it essential reading.

  • Armour, K. (2011).  Research methods in physical education and youth sport.  New York; London: Routledge
  • Berg, K., Latin, R. (2007). Essentials of research methods in health, physical education, exercise science. (3rd ed). Philadelphia. Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
  • Bell, J. (2010). Doing your research project : a guide for first-time researchers in education - 5th ed. Maidenhead : Open University Press / McGraw Hill
  • Cohen, L. (2011) Research methods in education / Louis Cohen, Lawrence Manion and Keith Morri - 7th ed. London : Routledge.
  • Creswell, J W. (2009) Research design : qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method approaches 3rd ed. Los Angeles; London : SAGE
  • Denzin, N. K., Lincoln, Y. (2011).  The Sage handbook of qualitative research (4th ed). Thousand Oaks, CA. Sage.
  • Field, A P. (2009) Discovering statistics using SPSS : (and sex and drugs and rock n roll) / - 3rd ed. London : SAGE
  • Fleming, S., Jordan. (2006). Ethical issues in leisure research: Leisure Studies Association.
  • Gratton and  Jones (2010) - Research methods for sports studies - 2nd ed.  New York; London : Routledge, 2010
  • Grix, J. (2010). Foundations of Research. Basingstoke, Palgrave.
  • Hammersley, M., & Atikinson, P. (2007). Ethnography: principles in practice (2nd ed). London : Routledge.
  • Miles, M B. (1994) Qualitative data analysis : an expanded sourcebook 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks, Calif.; London : Sage, 1994
  • Patton, M Q (2002) Qualitative research & evaluation methods 3rd ed. Thousand Oaks, Calif.; London : Sage, 2002
  • Robson, C (2011) Real world research : a resource for users of social research methods in app - 3rd ed Chichester : Wiley, 2011
  • Sands, R R. (2002) - Sport ethnography Champaign, Il. : Human Kinetics, 
  • Vincent, W. J. (2005) - Statistics in kinesiology - 3rd ed. Champaign, Ill. : Human Kinetics

Other Information

For students taking the 30 credit version of this module with the presentation assessment. Should this assessment element need to be reassessed it will be replaced by a short written assignment contributing 20% to cover the same topic areas.