1st Edition
Research Methods in Physical Activity and Health
Physical activity is vital for good health. It has an established strong evidence base for its positive effects on functional capacity, reducing the risk of many chronic diseases, and promoting physical, mental and social well-being. Furthermore, these benefits are evident across a diversity of ages, groups and populations. The need for these benefits in current societies means that exercise practitioners, professional bodies, institutions, health authorities and governments require high quality evidence to establish appropriate exercise guidelines, implementation strategies and effective exercise prescription at individual, group and population levels. Research Methods in Physical Activity and Health is the first book to comprehensively present the issues associated with physical activity and health research and outline methods available along with considerations of the issues associated with these methods and working with particular groups.
The book outlines the historical and scientific context of physical activity and health research before working through the full research process, from generating literature reviews and devising a research proposal, through selecting a research methodology and quantifying physical activity and outcome measures, to disseminating findings. Including a full section on conducting research studies with special populations, the book includes chapters on:
- Observational and cross-sectional studies;
- Interviews, questionnaires and focus groups;
- Qualitative and quantitative research methods;
- Epidemiological research methods;
- Physical activity interventions and sedentary behaviour; and
- Working with children, older people, indigenous groups, LGBTI groups, and those with physical and mental health issues.
Research Methods in Physical Activity and Health is the only book to approach the full range of physical activity research methods from a health perspective. It is essential reading for any undergraduate student conducting a research project or taking applied research modules in physical activity and health, graduate students of epidemiology, public health, exercise psychology or exercise physiology with a physical activity and health focus, or practicing researchers in the area.
1. Why Research into Health and Physical Activity?
Stephen R. Bird
2.The Historical and Current Context for Research into Health and Physical Activity
Stephen R Bird and David Broom
3. Health Concepts
David Broom
4. Nurture vs Nature: The Genetics and Epigenetics of Exercise
Macsue Jacques, Shanie Landen, Sarah Voisin, Séverine Lamon, and Nir Eynon
5. Systematically Searching and Reviewing the Literature
Nirav Maniar, Kathryn Duncan, and David Opar
6. Producing the Research Proposal
Marie Murphy and Catherine Woods
7. Ethical Issues in Health and Physical Activity Research
Valerie Cox
8. Observational (Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal) Studies
Christopher S. Owens, Diane Crone, Christopher Gidlow, and David VB James
9. Interviews and Focus Groups
Diane Crone and Lorena Lozano-Sufrategui
10. Questionnaires
Philip Hurst and Stephen R. Bird
11. Notes and Tips on Surveys
Philip Hurst and Stephen R. Bird
12. Qualitative Research in Physical Activity and Health
Brett Smith and Cassandra Phoenix
13. Intervention studies, training studies and determining the acute responses to bouts of exercise
Stephen R. Bird and Catherine Woods
14. An Introduction to Research Methods in the Epidemiology of Health and Physical Activity
Trine Moholdt and Bjarne M. Nes
15. Research into Sedentary Behaviour
Nicola D. Ridgers and Simone J.J.M. Verswijveren
16. Ensuring Quality Data: Validity, Reliability and Error
Damian A. Coleman and Jonathan D. Wiles
17. Quantitative Data Analyses
Richard Davison and Paul M. Smith
18. Measurement of Physical Behaviours in Free-Living Populations
Alan E. Donnelly and Kieran P. Dowd
19. Measurements of Physical Health and Functional Capacity
Brett Gordon and Isaac Selva Raj
20. Physical activity and the "feel-good" effect: challenges in researching the pleasure and displeasure people feel when they exercise
Panteleimon Ekkekakis, Matthew A Ladwig, and Mark E Hartman
21. Studying the Risks of Exercise and Its Negative Impacts
Andy Smith and Nathalie Noret
22. Research Studies with Children
Michael J. Duncan and Keith Tolfrey
23. Research Studies with Older People
Jane Sims and Harriet Radermacher
24. Working with Indigenous and Other Cultural Groups
Aunty Kerrie Doyle and Elizabeth Pressick
25. Research Methods in Physical Activity and Health: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
Damon Kendrick
26. Conducting Physical Activity Research Within Chronic Disease Populations
Brigid M. Lynch, Lucy Hackshaw-McGeagh, and Julian Sacre
27. Research Studies with Populations with Mental Health Issues
Andy Smith and Nathalie Noret
28. Research Studies in Populations with Physical Disabilities
Christof A. Leicht, Barry Mason, and Jan W. van der Scheer
29. Using Health Equity to Guide Future Physical Activity Research Involving People Living with Serious Mental Illness
Paul Gorczynski, Shanaya Rathod, and Kass Gibson
30. Disseminating the Research Findings
Ashleigh Moreland and Joshua Denham
31. Translating Research Findings into Community Interventions. Considerations for Design and Implementation: A Case Based Approach.
Andrew D Williams, Lucy K Byrne, Lindsey B Strieter, Greig Watson, and Ross Arena
32. Translating Research Findings Into Community Interventions. Considerations for Design and Implementation: A Case Based Approach
Andrew D Williams, Lucy K Byrne, Lindsey B Strieter, Greig Watson, and Ross Arena
Biography
Stephen R. Bird is a Research Group Leader at RMIT University, Australia. He has over 30 years of experience working in the University and Hospital sectors in the field of Health and Exercise. He has authored five books in the field, as well as numerous book chapters and over 100 articles on the subject. He is an active member of numerous professional associations, including being a former Chair of the Physiology Section of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences. His current research interests include physical activity for older people, the prevention of chronic diseases, and the use of exercise in rehabilitation programs.
