Research methodology in physical education

1. RESEARCH METHODOLGY IN
PHYSICAL EDUCATION

2. INTRODUCTION:
 Meaning of Research: It is a human quest for
knowledge. Research is nothing but
searching and investigating new things or
facts or new theories.It can also be
considered as the expansion of horizon of
knowledge for the betterment of human life
or it is a more systematic solution of
problems,honest, intelligent and exhaustive
search for facts.

3. RESEARCH WORD STANDS FOR:
 R~rational way of thinking.
 E~expert&exhaustive treatment.
 S~search for problems or solutions.
 E~exactness.
 A~analytical analysis of adequate data.
 R~relationship of facts.
 C~careful recording,critical observation,constructive
attitude.
 H~honesty and hardwork..

4. An older description of research may
be explained with the characteristics of
spelling out the word~MOVIE
 M~stands for mathematical,precision,&
accuracy.
 O~stands for objectivity.
 V~stands for verifiability.
 I~stands for impartiality.
 E~stands for expertness.

5. CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH:
~Research is always directed towards the solution of
educational problems.
~Research demands accurate observation and
description. It is not merely a collection of data.
~Research requires the collection of first hand
information or data from the primary sources or it
may be analysed by existing data for new findings.
~Research should be valid & verifiable and data based.

6. COND..
~Research should have a carefully designed
systematic procedure by applying advanced analysis
of resultant data.
~Research requires expertise i.e. a researcher should
have complete knowledge in the area of
investigation.
~Research should be carefully recorded and reported.
~Researcher should have the quest for knowledge.
~Research should never be a hurried activity.

7. NEED & IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH
IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION:
 It reduces the effort and increases the efficiency.
 Dignifies the work.
 Brings confidence.
 Leads to adoption of new methods.
 Bring a sense of awareness.
 Keeps alert.
 It controls the factors of social behaviour.
 Better understanding of teaching & learning process.
 It promotes educational reforms.

8. Cond…
 Research brings objectivity.
 Research leads to cultural, social, economic
& scientific development.
 Research is needed for selection.
 Research helps in identifying the talents.

9. SCOPE OF RESEARCH IN PHYSICAL
EDUCATION :
 Research is a science of life & it logically
includes the aspects of such divine
established disciplines such as
anatomy,physiology,chemistry,sports
training,measurement &
evaluation,engineering,new
technologies,sports
medicine,rehabilitation,history,sociology of
sports & kinesiology etc.

10. TYPES OF RESEARCH-
BASIC,APPLIED AND ACTION
RESEARCH:
TYPES OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH:
SCOPE BASED~1.fundamental or Basic
2.~Applied
3~Action
SUBJECT BASED~1.Historical
2~Descriptive
3~Experimental

11. FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH:
 It is also called as pure research. Actually the
fundamental or basic research seeks no immediate
practical outcome. It seeks to help for the betterment
of human life. This research is connected with
finding out the universally applicable theories
e.g.~growth and development,learning
theories.heredity and environment, educational
values,curriculum etc.The fundamental research is
usually carried on in a laboratory situations &
sometimes with the animals as subjects.

12. APPLIED RESEARCH:
 It is also called as field research.It is having most of
the characteristics of basic research.It’s purpose is
to improve a product or a process. Most of the
educational researches are applied researches and
they attempt to develop generalisations about
teaching~learning processes and instructional
materials.The theories or principles developed or
invented by the fundamental research are being
applied to various fields in applied research.

13. ACTION RESEARCH:
 It is focused on immediate application.It is primarily
conducted on the immediately available small
samples. Action research is conducted by
educational practitioners. A teacher conducts action
research to improve his own teaching, school
administrator conducts action research to improve
his administration, a coach conducts action research
to improve his coaching and to produce good results
and so on.

14. RESEARCH PROBLEM:
 Meaning of research problem~A problem in research
is infact a gap in the knowledge, a situation which
requires solution. It is the first step for the discovery
of new facts by following certain research
procedures. According to dictionary meaning
problem is a matter, difficult for settlement or
solution, a question or puzzle propounded for
solution. Human life posses a variety of problems.

15. LOCATION & CRITERIA FOR
SELECTION OF PROBLEM:
 ~Location- To solve the problem, reaching to
a problem, finding & detecting a problem
etc.to choose to select.
 1~systematically record unsolved problems.
 2~analyse literature in an area or a subject
field.
 3~analyse an area of special interest.
 4~consider support from former studies.

16. Cond…
 5~examine controversial study.
 6~become informed of researches going on in
colleges/universities.
 7~consult faculty members.
 8~discover interest of association/society and
various professional groups.
 9~group/individual discussion.
 10~sports scientists who undertake research studies
are of big help in locating feasible problems of
research.

17. CRITERIA IN SELECTING A GOOD
RESEARCH PROBLEM:
 1~novelty
 2~interesting
 3~significance of the problem
 4~researchers competency
 5~courage and confidence
 6~feasibility

18. COND…
 7~availability of data
 8~availability of guidance
 9~availability of co-operation
 10~availability of other facilities
 11~level of research
 12~experience and creativity

19. PRECAUTIONS TO BE FOLLOWED BY
A RESEARCHER WHILE SELECTING A
PROBLEM:
 1~He should select his field of specialisation and
become a scholar in that field as far as possible.
 2~he should have deep interest in it.
 3~investigator should study critically the available
related literature of the problem.
 4~he should accept the difficulties or obstacles of
that field as a challenge and try to exercise his
originality and ability to tackle them.
 5~he should prepare a record of the problems
already studied by others in his area of
specialisation.

20. THE SOURCES OF PROBLEM:
 1~record of previous literature
 2~surroundings
 3~inference from the theory
 4~technological and social change
 5~discussions
 6~questionning attitude
 7~consultations

21. LIMITATIONS & DELIMITATIONS
 A researcher must have to limit and delimit his
studies about the factors which are beyond his
control. Delimitations is having a much broader area
than the limitation. i.e., immediate fence is called as
limitations and the broader fence is called as
delimitations.for e.g., time and season of the
experiment, the physical and mental status of the
subjects, conditions of the equipments etc.
Limitations may also be expressed about
instruments, review of related literature,
interpretation techniques & etc.

22. SURVEY OF RELATED LITERATURE:
 Surveys are primarily descriptive in nature. They involve
systematic collection, analysis, interpretation and reporting of
relevant facts concerning to an institution, sample or population
as a whole.
 Various types of surveys are conducted e.g.~
 1~descriptive survey-concerned with describing a specific set of
phenomena at a point in time.
 2~comparative survey-intended to compare two or more
research situations in terms of some pre-selected criteria.
 3~evaluative survey-planned to evaluate some aspects of
research situation in terms of pre-selected criteria.

23. Cond…
 4~normative survey-it deals with the
construction or compilation of norms.
 5~informative survey-it provides information
about an individual or institution. Almost all
the case studies are informative in nature.

24. TOOLS OF SURVEY:
 Observation.
 Questionnaire.
 Interview.
 Opinionnaire.

25. LITERATURE SOURCES:
 CRITICAL SOURCES~It includes books, articles
research papers, abstracts or certain published
studies that are directly related to the topic under
investigation and so are critical to the subject.
 ALLIED SOURCES~(not directly related) These
studies are related to the investigation but are
peripheral in nature. They aren’t directly related to
our topic. They are for an important point of the study
because they provide the back ground upon which it
tests.

26. LIBRARY READING:
 1~The card catalogue:
 a) the author card
 b) the title card
 c) the subject card
 2~Indices
 3~Preparation of bibliography:
 a) details of bibliography
 b) bibliography for journals or periodicals
 4~Abstract

27. NEED FOR SURVEYING RELATED
LITERATURE:
 1~to determine if a study has already been
completed on the proposed topic.
 2~to determine if the study of similar nature is in
progress.
 3~to discover research applied to the problem.
 4~they provide ideas, theories,explanation & all
hypothesis valuables in understanding and
formulating the problem.

28. COND…
 5~to identify research procedures and statistical
analysis of data employed by others.
 6~to locate comparable material useful in
interpreting the results.
 7~to understand the significance (benefit) of
research.
 8~to be included on background for the written
research report.

29. HISTORICAL RESEARCH:
 History is a meaningful record of human
achievements. It is not merely a list of
chronological events but a truthful and
integrated account of the relationships
between persons, events, times and places.
History is used or very much essential to
understand the past & try to understand the
present in light of past events and
developments and to predict the future.

30. STEPS INVOLVED IN HISTORICAL
RESEARCH:
 1~collection of data
 2~criticism of data
 3~presentation of facts in readable,narrative
form,including problems of
organisation,composition (construction)
exposition (explanation) & interpretation
 4~selection of the problem
 5~formulation of hypothesis

31. HISTORICAL SOURCES:
 There are mainly two sources of collecting the
material in historical research.they are:- (a) Primary
sources (b) Secondary sources
 (a) PRIMARY SOURCES- These are reported by an
actual observer or participant in an event. These are
also called as first hand information or in primary
source only one mind come between the event and
the user of the source. These are very important and
provides a solid basis for the historical writing.

32. COND…
 The following are the common primary sources:-
 1~official records, or documents.
 2~personal records.
 3~oral statements.
 4~pictorial records.
 5~printed and published material.
 6~physical remains.
 7~mechanical records.

33. SECONDARY SOURCES:
 Secondary sources are the means of an event that
were not actually witnessed by the reporter. The
researcher will not be on the scene of the event but,
merely reports what the person who was there said
and wrote. Some times the same source may be
considered as primary as well as secondary
depending upon the purpose. Normally text books
are considered as secondary sources if, they are
taken up for a change in the syllabus then, they will
be considered as primary source for that particular
study.

34. EVALUATION OF HISTORICAL
MATERIALS:
 The authenticity, accuracy or validity of either
primary or secondary sources,the researcher must
be critical about the materials obtained. Physical
remains may not be genuine, a record may not be
correct, a photograph may be faked and so on.
Therefore historical materials must be evaluated and
this evaluation can be made by applying two types of
criticisms:-
 1~external criticism
 2~internal criticism

35. EXTERNAL CRITICISM:
 External criticism establishes the authenticity or genuineness of
data. Through external criticism the research determines
whether the applied source is genuine and admissible as
evidence or not. It involves so many questions:-
 (a) who is the author?
 (b) was the document written by a ghost writer or by another?
 (c) what were the qualifications of the authors?
 (d) is a particular item of equipment, piece of apparatus,
costume or other professional artifact authentic?

36. INTERNAL CRITICISM:
 After establishing the authenticity through the
external criticism,we have to evaluate the accuracy
and the trustworthiness of the sources and that can
be done through internal criticism with the help of
following questions:-
 (a) is the meaning of the words same ? - the
meaning of the words may change with time or same
words may have different meaning in different
places?

37. COND…
 (b) is the author writing seriously?
 (c) is the author expressing his or her real belief?
 (d) how soon the document was written after the
event?
 (e) was the author biased in any way?
 (f) are written sources evaluated with an
understanding of the times and conditions under
which they were produced.

38. PHILOSOPHICAL RESEARCH:
 Philosophical studies are directed towards
the process of developing philosophies and
applying them to practice. The philosophical
method is used for resolving problems
especially which cannot be solved by other
means or that cannot wait on other means
for an answer. In such situations
philosophical method can be applied to a
problem at once.

39. NATURE OF PHILOSOPHICAL
RESEARCH:
 1) philosophical method by itself is not scientific. This
method needs to resolve certain kinds of problems.
 2) the philosophical method is largely subjective.
 3) the solution of problem is accomplished through
critical thinking.
 4) this thinking is based upon whatever evidence
may be available.
 5) reason is applied to the evidence and is
supplemented by actual observation.
 6) it involves critical thinking, level of extensive
generalisation beyond the fact finding science.

40. COND…
 7) philosophy takes the conclusion of
science. Uses these facts of law materials for
further reflection.
 8) criticism experience as it exists at a given
time and thus renders experiences as more
united stable & progressive.
 9) greatest possible use of experience
results from both empirical and scientific
observation.

41. METHODS / STEPS OF
PHILOSOPHICAL RESEARCH:
 1) identify the problem area. The problem is
defined and delimited by manageable
properties.
 2) collect the facts on available data relatated
to the problem.
 3) synthesise and analyse the facts and then
identify it’s relationship with the event under
study. A pattern is drawn and from the
synthesis an analysis of available fact is
produced.

42. COND…
 4) from this pattern, device the general
properties that describe the relationships
inherent to the principles.
 5) state these principles in the form of
hypothesis or tentative assumptions.
 6) test the hypothesis for acceptance or
rejection.

43. EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH:
 This research provides a systematic and
logical method for answering the questions.
Experiment provides a method of hypothesis
testing after the experimenter defines a
problem he proposes for a tentative answer.
Experimentation is the classic method of
science laboratory where elements are
manipulated and effects observed can be
controlled.

44. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS:
 In physical education,laboratory experiments are conducted
involving human subjects, In the area of exercise physiology,
sports psychology, biomechanics sports medicine, sports
physiotherapy etc. the method normally used in experimental
research are:-
 1) single group design
 2) repeated measures design
 3) static group comparison design
 4) random-groups design
 5) rotation group design
 6) factorial designs & etc.

45. SINGLE GROUP DESIGN:
 Only one group of subjects will be involved.
First the initial test will be conducted then,
the experimental factor i.e., training or
treatment will be given and then the final test
will be conducted. This is normally done in
physical conditioning, where physical fitness
depends upon the systematic exercise or
physical training.

46. REPEATED MEASURES DESIGN:
 It is nothing but the variation of a single
group design. In this the training is given and
the test will be repeated several times i.e.,
with time intervals. Normally it is used to find
out the periodical effect & not to decide the
period of treatment to be given for the better
performance.

47. STATIC GROUP COMPARISON
DESIGN:
 It is nothing but a comparative study. Here no
training or no experiment will be conducted.
Simply comparison will be made by testing
the physical qualities between two types of
group e.g., comparison of physical fitness of
athletes and non athletes or athletic
performance of football players and non
football players.

48. RANDOM GROUPS DESIGN:
 It is the improvement of repeated measures design.
In the repeated measures design only one group will
be considered, where as in random groups design
two or more groups will be formed by random
selection and after that one group will be given
treatment and the other one will be kept as control
group. The pre-test and the post-test will be
conducted on both the groups and the result will be
concluded.

49. ROTATION GROUPS DESIGN:
 The groups will be rotated at periodic
intervals. This method is used only when the
number of subjects is small. The rotation
method rotates only some experimental
factors.

50. FACTORIAL DESIGN:
 When more variables are included and the cause-
and-effect or the interaction effect is being tested,this
method is used. This will be indicated with the tables
i.e., 2x2, 2x3, 3x3 or 2x2x2, 2x2x3, 3x3x3, 3x4x3 etc.
for example, the performance in any game depends
upon the physical qualities like speed, agility,
strength, endurance etc. and the other qualities like
skills, anthropometric measurements & etc. So with
the help of factorial design the interaction effect of
various variables can be tested.

51. RESEARCH PROPOSAL:
 MEANING AND SIGNIFICANCE:-A research proposal is a
document that outlines a planned project or investigation. The
research proposal is a design of the research study that
outlines a particular problem. It proposes procedure of data
collection, its analysis and presentation of the findings.
Research proposal gives detail knowledge about the problem
and makes the research workable.
 The research proposal basically consists of three chapters:-
 1) introduction
 2) review of related literature
 3) methodology or procedure.

52. FEATURES OF RESEARCH
PROPOSAL:
 1) it gives information about research
problem.
 2) it’s planning before executing the
research.
 3) it help’s the researcher to do research
smoothly without mistakes.
 4) it consist of only three chapters.

53. SIGNIFICANCE OR IMPORTANCE OR
NEED:
 1) the investigator organises the plan for conducting
the project or research work in written form.
 2) it provides guidelines for investigator to be
followed during the conduct of project.
 3) it provides a method for review and a document
which can be judged for its scholarly merits.
 4) it establishes the limits and criteria to be followed
and adhered (in the limit) through out the conduct of
project.
 5) it provides a measure for accountability of those
involved in the project.

54. PREPARATION OF RESEARCH
PROPOSAL:
 The steps given in procedure helps the
scholars to proceed in a given way so, that
they don’t miss the actual proposed concept
of their research study and follow a standard
guideline.
 STEPS~ the research proposal includes the
following steps:-

55. 1st CHAPTER (INTRODUCTION)
 It’s a brief introduction of the topic in which the
research scholars makes the care for selecting the
research problem, giving its significance and
importance to be a professional. Explains why he
has taken this problem and gives background about
the problem.
 Statement of a problem
 Delimitations and limitations
 Hypothesis
 Definition of the terms
 Significance of the study or the problem

56. COND…
 SETTING UP THE TITTLE~ the title of the problem
may be inventory set up. It may be changed or
modified subsequently.
 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM~ statement
should also indicate whether the study is
comparative or experimental.
 HYPOTHESIS~ it is a tentative answer to a question
based on either one’s own experience, knowledge or
study, This intelligent “guess” is subjected to a
proposal of verification. It may be accepted or
rejected.

57. COND…
 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROBLEM~ the
researcher must state clearly purposes of the
study & he must answer about the benefits of
the study.
 DEFINITION OF IMPORTANT TERMS~
essential terms or technical words should be
defined very clearly. Optional definition of a
term is more important than merely its
dictionary meaning.

58. 2nd CHAPTER (REVIEW OF RELATED
LITERATURE)
 Importance is as much as it helps the
researcher in making the concept clear, in
formulating hypothesis & in providing
evidence that he is familiar with what is
already known and what is yet to be known.

59. 3rd CHAPTER (PROCEDURE AND
METHODOLOGY)
 This section of the research proposal is
highly technical in nature and should be
written very carefully.

60. 4th CHAPTER (BIBLIOGRAPHY)
 In the end the investigator must give in
acceptable bibliographical form references to
the authors he has studied in constructing
the theorical frame work of his problem
 HYPOTHESIS~ it is the tentative supposition
or provisional guess to explain the situation
under observation. In hypothesis the guess
imagination & idea are the basis for further
investigation.

61. COND…
 LIMITATION~ beyond the control of research
when after his full efforts struggle and
exhaustiveness the scholar is unable to
control or overcome the restrictions is called
it’s limitations.

62. THE RESEARCH REPORT:
 The research conducted must be reported
properly, otherwise the most brilliant
hypothesis generalisation, the best organised
studies will be of no use. According to
Manroe and Englehaart, “the report of an
investigation, not only serves to record and
communicate but, it also fulfils an important
function in the process of research”.

63. CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD
RESEARCH REPORT:
 All the reports may not be same,they may differ considerably even
then, some of the basic characteristics have been given below-
 (1) the research report must be clear in expression of ideas and facts.
 (2) right choice of words, sentences,idioms & phrases,must be done.
 (3) the entire material of research should be properly organised.
 (4) the material should be presented in a standardised and acceptable
form. The tables, diagrams & graphs must be standard one.
 (5) the research report must be complete in all respects.
 (6) the report must indicate the capacity, competency & proficiency
etc. of the researcher.

64. PARTS OF THE RESEARCH REPORT
OR FORMAT OF RESEARCH REPORT
 Although the research reports may differ considerably,a
particular format is given below-
 (1)Preliminary section or front material:-
 (a) title page
 (b) approval page
 (c) dedication
 (d) vita or biodata of the author
 (e) acknowledgement
 (f) tables of contents
 (g) list of tables
 (h) list of figures.

65. COND…
 (2) Main body of the report
 (A) Introduction
 (i) statement of the problem
 (ii) significance of the problem
 (iii) definition of important terms,
assumptions, limitations and delimitations
 (iv) hypothesis
 (B) Review of related literature:-

66. COND…
 (C) Design of the study
 (i) procedures used
 (ii) subjects, and sampling technique followed
 (iii) method of collecting the data
 (iv) description of tools or instruments.
 (D) Presentation, analysis and interpretation of data
 (i) data
 (ii) tables
 (iii) figures.

67. COND…
 (E) Summary and conclusion
 (i) summary of the procedure followed
 (ii) the main findings and conclusion
 (iii) recommendations for further study.
 (3) Supplementary material or back material
 (i) bibliography
 (ii) appendix
 (iii) index
 (iv) footnote.

68. Dr. Dharmendra Singh Bhadoria
(Former Research Scholar)
Department of Physical Education,
M.G.K.V.P; Varanasi
Dr. Santosh Kumar
(Head of Department )
Department of Physical Education,
M.G.K.V.P; Varanasi