Understanding Research in Sport, Recreation, and Tourism – SMGT 520

CG • Section 8WK • 11/08/2019 to 04/16/2020 • Modified 09/05/2023

Course Description

Overview of the nature of research in sport, recreation, and tourism studies. Topics include different types of research in sport, research design, skills in data collection and assessment, and application of research to the management of sport, recreation, and tourism.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Rationale

The objective of this course is to help the student understand the importance of research in developing knowledge, engage in further reading of research, and carry out his or her own research in order to relate theory to actual practice. At the conclusion, the student will have the skills and knowledge necessary to critically evaluate sport-related research and to judiciously apply findings in his or her professional settings.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (4)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to create a thread in response to the provided prompt for each of four (4) discussions. Each thread must be at least 400 words, and the assertions in the thread must be supported with at least 1 scholarly resource cited in current APA format. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 2 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be at least 200 words and relate issues to 1 biblical principle.

Annotated Bibliography Assignment

Before beginning the Literature Review or Alternative Assignment, the student will create an annotated bibliography consisting of 15 peer-reviewed sources, all cited using current APA format. It must not summarize the resource or list the content; rather, it must briefly explain 1) the author’s main point or argument, 2) the author’s method or approach, and 3) the place of the piece in the literature as a whole (e.g., does the author agree with other scholars?). The bibliography as a whole must provide a solid overview of the existing state of research in the area the student is studying.

Quantitative Article Review Assignment

The student will summarize and critically evaluate a quantitative journal article on his or her selected research topic. 

Qualitative Article Review Assignment

The student will summarize and critically evaluate a qualitative journal article on his or her selected research topic. 

Literature Review Assignment or Applied Research Report Assignment

Literature Review Assignment (Thesis-Track Students): Integrating additional research with the studies already reviewed and outlined in the Annotated Bibliography, the student will write a 10–15-page traditional literature review on the selected research topic related to sport or recreation management. The review must be a synthesis (not simply a summary) of relevant research findings related to the selected topic. The review must be formatted in current APA style.

Applied Research Report Assignment (Non-Thesis Track Students): Integrating additional research with the studies already reviewed and outlined in the Annotated Bibliography, the student will write a 10–15-page paper on a sport or recreation management topic of interest related to practitioner research and professional development, the application of research in the workplace, knowledge transfer, integrating research skills to solve pragmatic problems, etc. The student is encouraged to envision what kind of internship placement he or she desires and consider disciplinary connections from this (and other) course(s) to the internship site as a place of experiential learning. This assignment must be formatted in current APA style.

Research Proposal Assignment or Applied Research Presentation Assignment

Research Proposal Assignment (Thesis-Track Students): As a culminating project for this course, the student must incorporate all previous work into a 15-slide PowerPoint presentation research proposal. The student is not required to conduct the proposed research; instead, he or she will simply outline a possible research plan. The proposal must be formatted in current APA style.

Applied Research Presentation Assignment (Non-Thesis Track Students): As a culminating project for this course, the student must incorporate all previous work into a 15-slide PowerPoint professional development presentation. The presentation will be submitted as if to enlighten workplace colleagues on the virtues of basic practitioner research skills and the application of research in the workplace. This assignment must be formatted in current APA style.

Quizzes

Each of five (5) quiz will cover the Learn material for the module in which it is assigned. Each quiz will be open-book/open-notes and contain multiple-choice questions.