1. Philosophic Research in Physical Activity
chapter 13
Philosophic Research in Physical Activity

2. Chapter Outline The purposes of philosophic research
Locating a research problem
Analyzing a research problem

3. The Purposes of Philosophic Research
Examine reality by reflective procedures.
Use ideas, meanings, lived experiences, values, logical relationships, and reasons.
Philosophers’ data are in the “black box.”
Four subdivisions of philosophic research
Metaphysics: The nature of things
Axiology: The value of things
Epistemology: What we “know”
Poetry: Liberating from above alternatives

4. Locating a Research Problem
Making judgments about what is worth pursuing
Research problems
Personal experience
Establishing a clear research question
Definitions, descriptions, clarifications, and disclaimers

5. Analyzing a Research Problem
Philosophic methods
Ambitious: Philosophers can be objective and mostly unbiased.
Cautious: The powers of reason are doubtful.
Inductive reasoning: specific to general
Deductive reasoning: general to specific
Descriptive reasoning: describes what is seen
Speculative reasoning: extends description
Critical or poetic reasoning: criticism and deconstruction

6. Learning Activity for Philosophic Research Methods
You are a member of the HHP Undergraduate Curriculum Committee. You have been asked to do the following tasks:
Determine the required core experiences for a BS degree in exercise and sport science.
Suggest the depth of knowledge (e.g., level of analysis: cellular, system, principles?) that should be required in the core courses.
(continued)

7. Learning Activity for Philosophic Research Methods (continued)
Determine the appropriate relationship between studying physical activity and experiencing it. (How important is experiencing physical activity for a major?)
Determine the level of skill or fitness required in experiencing physical activity.

8. Solving the Learning Activity Problems
What basis did your group use for answering these questions?
What philosophic method or methods did you use in the process?
Are there other ways to approach this issue?