In the field of kinesiology, the ability to distinguish between casual observation and rigorous investigation is essential. While social media, personal anecdotes, or expert custom might offer interesting perspectives, they do not provide the verifiable facts necessary to advance a profession. Research serves as the primary mechanism for a profession to expand its knowledge base and remain viable; essentially, a profession is only as strong as the research it produces.
Research can be understood in two distinct ways: as a verb, referring to the act of following a logical process using specific concepts and techniques to produce knowledge, and as a noun, referring to the collection of information that represents established knowledge on a topic.
The Nature of Research
Research is not a random collection of facts; it is a logical, orderly, and systematic process used to discover new knowledge or find solutions to specific problems. To be considered effective, research must possess several core characteristics:
- Empirical: Conclusions are drawn based on evidence rather than intuition.
- Continual: It builds upon previous knowledge and often generates new questions for future study.
- Structured: It is driven by a specific question, hypothesis, or problem and follows a predefined plan known as the research process.
- Argumentative: It requires a reasoned argument to support its conclusions.
Study Tip: When evaluating a source, ask yourself if the claims are empirical. If the author provides no evidence or data to support their conclusion, it is likely an informal report rather than scientific research.
Research Approaches: Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Methods
Creswell (2014) identifies three primary research approaches that differ in their underlying assumptions, research questions, methods, data types, and analysis.
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