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This paper discusses the apparent malaise within sport socialization research. After evaluating the previous literature as well as existing critiques, we suggest that the majority of problematic assumptions have occurred at the methodological rather than the theoretical level. Many methodological limitations are evident, such as sampling bias, using males as a standard, and the failure to use control groups. In addition a breakdown between theory and subsequent operationalization has occurred, as demonstrated by the reduction of the socialization process to a unidirectional situation. The discussion concludes by suggesting that there is continuous need to shuttle between theoretical conceptualization and empirical exposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The study is an exploratory study of a media event in Australia based on the publication of two separate systematic analyses of complementary medicine (CM) therapies. The objective of the study was to measure the scientific quality of Australian newspaper media reports about two international peer-reviewed research papers reporting results on complementary medicines published in biomedical journals during Feb/March 2007. For purposes of clarity, we refer to the papers as the ‘Antioxidant Study’ (Bjelakovic et al 2007) and the ‘Prenatal Multivitamin Study’ (Goh et al 2007). Methods: We sourced articles that were published about the two research papers in mainstream metropolitan and national Australian newspapers during February and March 2007. We then applied a model of analysis called the Index of Scientific Quality (ISQ) to measure the scientific quality of the news reports. Results: We identified 14 newspaper articles and one newswire article about the Antioxidant Study and two newspaper articles about the Prenatal Multivitamin Study. Of the seven ISQ criteria, ‘validity’ and ‘precision’ were rated the least adequate, ‘important consequences’ of the research were reported partially in the Antioxidant Study and wholly in the Prenatal Multivitamin Study, and ‘opinion from fact’ was adequate in the majority of articles. Conclusion: This exploratory study conveyed an overall inadequacy in the scientific quality of the newspaper reporting about the two CM studies in major metropolitan and national Australian newspapers. Whilst we found that journalists were careful to attribute opinions to their sources, their reports conveyed a very limited understanding of biomedical research methodologies and a subsequent incapacity to scrutinise these methodologies with rigour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with processes of international enquiry. It focuses upon the relationship between a research problem and access to conduct research in a country. It uses data from an ethnographic study of primary education in a Northern Indian District. Conceptually drawing upon the insider-outsider debate within the sociology of knowledge, the paper raises issues about the relationship between the research problem, accessing knowledge and being an outsider to a research setting. It considers problems facing a particular form of outsider - a foreigner. The paper maintains that when researchers who are outsiders embark on designing research in non-western international educational settings, then questions considering the relationship between the research problem, access strategies and the culture of the research setting are vital. Grappling with such questions allows for the development and promotion of new forms of partnership, alongside a deeper understanding of culture and context, when developing comparative and international research policy agendas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropologists and others working in the field of development are making increasing use of participatory research methods. While aware of the value of such methods, this paper outlines a number of methodological issues that need to be carefully considered. Such issues, when taken together with the problem of combining participatory with other forms of qualitative and quantitative research, argue strongly not only for caution but the need to undertake basic research on the participatory methods themselves. This paper looks at the development of participatory rural appraisal (PRA) in development research, and critically examines three methods/techniques—interviewing, visualization and ranking/scoring—in terms of their relation to qualitative research. Finally, the issue of the validity of PRA is discussed in relation to arguments about the role of sequencing/triangulating research techniques that are shown to be as problematic as the unexamined use of PRA methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been a tendency for researchers and practitioners to overlook the needs and experiences of children and young people in relation to disasters. In this paper, we report on our exploration of the question of whether to involve children and young people in post-bushfire research, and if so how? In considering children's rights in this context we were guided by a number of conceptions of the child (reflecting research debates within the Sociology of Childhood): The citizen child; the child at risk; and the developing child. We engaged in formal, progressive consultations with experts internationally and with bushfire affected community partners. This study determined that research with children post-bushfires was an important, ethical and appropriate activity, provided the methodology was sensitive and allowed children to provide informed consent and to have a sense of control over the issues being discussed. We conclude that carefully considering a rights approach materially changed the final methodology that includes the perspectives of children and young people in research about recovery from traumatic disasters, while still respecting their right to be safe and supported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary objective of the study reported in this paper was to look at the use of qualitative methodology in ergonomics research and practice. Qualitative methodology itself was chosen as a compatible approach to explore these aims, with ergonomics being seen as a socially situated practice. Semi-structured interviews were carried out using a prompt sheet which developed iteratively during the study. A four stage sampling procedure was used to gain access to 21 interviewees. These stages were (1) spreading the net (purposive sampling), (2) following up leads (snowball sampling), (3) focussing (intensity sampling), and (4) analysis sampling to seek out extreme/deviant cases. A total of 12 academics and 9 practitioners were interviewed from all areas of ergonomics, including cognitive (psychology), product design, engineering, human and health sciences, organisational management and sociology. The findings are represented by a model showing the interactions between multiple dimensions, including academia/practice, qualitative/quantitative and the internal and external environments of ergonomics. There was considerable interest in expanding the ergonomics toolbox to include qualitative methodology. However concerns were raised about a perceived lack of knowledge with respect to the process, which could be addressed through education and reflective practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Criticisms of the field of collective behavior can be categorized as either methodological, ideological, or conceptual-theoretical. For methodological problems we examine the views that research on collective behavior is hampered because collective behavior is unpredictable, transitory, fluid, diffuse, complex, and uncontrolled. For ideological problems we look at the claims that the unsatisfactory state of the field of collective behavior is the result of its controversial material and lack of objectivity, defense of the status quo, trivialization of politics, and attributions of social pathology. For methodological and ideological criticisms, we conclude they are generally invalid or incorrect. A better strategy for improving collective behavior theory and research and advancing it closer to mainstream sociology is to focus on the conceptual-theoretical criticisms, for this tactic would have a greater pay off for sociology generally and collective behavior specifically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the methodology of sports sociology. A methodology of Max Weber which focuses on the sociocultural study of sport is presented. Weber's approach to sociocultural research in sports demands to view sport as a part of historical and sociocultural reality. It requires the researchers to recognize that sport cannot be isolated from public issues and human troubles in the society. Weber's methodology emphasizes the interpenetration of sociocultural disciplines that lead to the contextual and critical analysis of sports.

This research note offers a brief discussion of insider research and insider-outsider controversies in disability research. It then focuses on the extent to which researchers of disability in sport and leisure reflect on two important issues in their research findings: their experiences as disabled or non-disabled researchers and conducting inclusive and emancipatory disability research. It suggests that whilst there are many ethical challenges associated with doing disability research in sport and leisure settings, scholars in this area have offered limited detailed reflexive accounts of their experiences. By addressing this, we may learn from each other how to improve the action and political potential of research in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article comments on four articles in the October 2005 issue of the journal "Political Communication" that signify the importance of the study of political learning from communication sources to the broader domain of political communication scholarship. It looks at consistencies and inconsistencies in these four approaches to the study of political communication. It notes that three of the four articles take the uncommon approach of using panel data, which allow more sophisticated analyses that account for prior levels of the independent variables, the dependent variable, or both. It also cites differences in the study contexts and methodologies used in the articles that could play an important role in the variability of conclusions.

Bourdieu's social theory offers a way of understanding some of the most important features of the field of educational research, while also providing educational researchers with a rich conceptual apparatus for their practice. This article addresses both of these methodological themes and the connections between them. We begin by outlining some key trends in educational research, mainly in Britain, over recent decades in terms of Bourdieu's Field Theory. Special attention is given to the relative positioning of researchers and the formation of an 'avant-garde'. We refer to the impact of educational policy and attacks on educational research, with attendant effects on the field, and on the formation and legitimacy of knowledge about educational processes. This analysis is followed by an example taken from a contemporary research project in which principles derived from Bourdieu's approach have been adopted in framing methodology. We give particular attention to the terms of the programme in which the project forms a part, and key aspects of it such as 'user engagement'. Both methodological justifications and consequences are discussed, as well as tensions with dominant expectations of research processes and outcomes. Finally, we argue that, following Bourdieu's own public strategies of sociopolitical action, educational research methodology that is radically reflexive has the capacity to found a critically effective discourse with practical consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]