Research

New Research Data Released: Perceived Barriers to Recreational Sport Research

In August, the National Research Institute for College Recreational Sports & Wellness, in Partnership with NIRSA, was formally opened in The Ohio State University's new Recreation and Physical Activity Center (RPAC).

The Research Institute will provide the infrastructure needed to conduct, report, and teach research skills. It will provide data needed to defend recreational sports' existence, align for further growth, and to make superior decisions regarding programs, services, and facilities. Ultimately, this will lead to an enhanced quality of life for those involved in college recreational sports. See the mission, vision and values of the Institute on the Web site. For more information, contact the NIRSA liaison, Sarah Jane Hubert.

Investigators: Danell J. Haines, PhD, and Annemarie Farrell, Department of Recreational Sports, Recreation and Physical Activity Center, 337 W. 17th Ave., The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210.

Abstract

Introduction

Research is an essential component of university recreational sports (URS) because it is needed to scientifically test interventions, defend one's existence, and to align oneself for further growth. Current data is one of the most important documented criteria needed to substantiate an increased operating budget, to justify adding personnel, and to validate the need for additional or new facilities. Dr. Craig Ross stated in "Valuing the Vision of Recreational Sports" (NIRSA, 1995), "we have an obligation and a responsibility to produce scholarly work for colleagues in the field." For this to occur, research outcomes need to be reported so that others can apply the results to decision-making and justify strategic planning outcomes. Overall, there is a recognized need for research-based evidence regarding URS fundamentals, principles, and practices. However, there is still a void in URS professionals who conduct and report research. Why is there a lack of reported research in URS? The answer to this question is complex, requiring a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methodology that investigates the perceived barriers to conducting and reporting research as identified by URS professionals.

Research Question

What are the perceived barriers to conducting and reporting research as identified by URS Directors and their staff?

Methodology

Instrument

A four-part survey designed by the investigators was used to answer the research question. Part I of the survey included demographic information. Part II involved a list of perceived barriers to conducting research, Part III included a list of perceived barriers to publishing research, and Part IV included perceived barriers to presenting research. In Parts II, III, and IV of the survey, respondents used a 5-point Likert scale to indicate the degree to which each item is a barrier (1= not a barrier, 5= very much a barrier). Items listed as "barriers" in Parts II, III, and IV of the survey were determined by conducting focus groups. Focus group methodology was particularly suited for developing the survey because several perspectives, attitudes, feelings, beliefs, experiences, and reactions on the barriers to conducting research, publishing, and presenting were needed.

Subjects

All Big Ten URS professionals, Directors and staff, plus a random sample of 1,000 NIRSA professionals stratified by NIRSA regions, received the survey via email using Scantron® eListen software.

Results

A total of 324 respondents submitted their survey: a 35.6% return rate. Numeric data from early and late respondents were compared with no overall significant difference (p=.67) in responses. This suggests that overall, none-respondents are similar to respondents and that data is generalizable to NIRSA members. Almost 60% of the respondents were male and 40% females. Most (80.8%) had a Masters' or Doctoral degree and 31.9% were directors, while 55.4% were an associate director, assistant director, or coordinator. Almost half (49.2%) of the respondents have worked professionally in URS for eleven or more years.

Barriers to Conducting Research

As stated in the literature and consistent with other professions, "lack of time" is the most frequently cited barrier to conducting research, as perceived by college recreational sports professionals. There were 83.7% respondents who indicated that they strongly agreed or agreed with the statement, "My lack of time is a barrier to conducting research." More than half of the respondents agreed with the barrier, "My pay increases are not dependent on conducting research," 70.4% agreed or strongly agreed; "My lack of research funding and/or money budgeted to research is a barrier to conducting research," (55.6%); and "My lack of clerical support is a barrier to conducting research," 51.9%.

Barriers to Publishing

The barrier that 70.4% of the respondents highly agreed or agreed was a barrier to publishing was "lack of time." The remaining items on the list were not necessarily perceived as a barrier, with less than 40% of the respondents agreeing that the item is a barrier.

Barriers to Presenting

The results of the survey indicated that 53.7% of the respondents agreed that a barrier to presenting was a lack of time to prepare a presentation. The only other barrier that greater than 50% of the respondents agreed with was, "The lengthy process of preparing presentations is a barrier."

Discussion and Recommendations

This is the first study to examine the barriers to conducting research, publishing, and presenting as perceived by URS professionals. Articulated in the focus groups and confirmed by the survey respondents, URS professionals indicated that "time" was the number one barrier to conducting and reporting research. However, the investigators believe that "lack of time" can be interpreted as "not a priority." Frequently, when a responsibility is not seen as a priority, it means that its importance is not understood or is too difficult to accomplish. To this end, the investigators recommend that URS professionals need to be educated on the need, importance, and administration of URS research. This concurs with information discussed in the review of literature, where investigators believe that protected research time, financial incentives, and support structures are needed to build research capacity.

To assist in building research capacity among the NIRSA membership, NIRSA established a partnership with the National Research Institute for College Recreational Sports and Wellness. The overarching purpose of the Institute is to build research capacity, which is the process of individual and institutional development, which leads to higher skills and greater ability to perform useful research. College recreational sports professionals need to make use of opportunities that lend themselves to developing research skills, such as conference workshops and mentorships. The most successful researchers point to one or more significant mentors who guided their career development. Identifying and working with an experienced researcher is as important as having formal research instruction.

Departments of college recreation should be encouraged to examine their organizations and determine the extent to which they enhance or impede research. College recreational sports professionals need to be incentivized to conduct research. For example, including research, publishing, and presenting in the professional's job description and annual evaluation might increase the department's research productivity. Requiring attendance at research workshops and making staff aware of resources on campus, along with requiring Graduate Administrative Assistants to conduct small-scale research projects and to report the outcomes, will assist in building a research culture.

Research is needed to be able to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of how we operate, to test new interventions, to evaluate new ways of doing business, and to be able to make decisions based on evidence (data). Finally, it is a professional and moral obligation to conduct research and report outcomes.

A complete manuscript from this study will be submitted to the NIRSA Recreational Sports Journal for publication.

Thank you to the Big Ten Recreational Sports Directors for funding this project.