The Specificity of Observational Studies in Physical Activity and Sports Sciences: Moving Forward in Mixed Methods Research and Proposals for Achieving Quantitative and Qualitative Symmetry

Abstract

Mixed methods studies are been increasingly applied to a diversity of fields. In this paper, we discuss the growing use—and enormous potential—of mixed methods research in the field of sport and physical activity. A second aim is to contribute to strengthening the characteristics of mixed methods research by showing how systematic observation offers rigor within a flexible framework that can be applied to a wide range of situations. Observational methodology is characterized by high scientific rigor and flexibility throughout its different stages and allows the objective study of spontaneous behavior in natural settings, with no external influence. Mixed methods researchers need to take bold yet thoughtful decisions regarding both substantive and procedural issues. We present three fundamental and complementary ideas to guide researchers in this respect: we show why studies of sport and physical activity that use a mixed methods research approach should be included in the field of mixed methods research, we highlight the numerous possibilities offered by observational methodology in this field through the transformation of descriptive data into quantifiable code matrices, and we discuss possible solutions for achieving true integration of qualitative and quantitative findings.

The Action of Verbal and Non-verbal Communication in the Therapeutic Alliance Construction: A Mixed Methods Approach to Assess the Initial Interactions With Depressed Patients

“…Therefore, in the second stage (QUANT stage), after having tested and passed the data quality control, it is possible to perform analyses through different quantitative techniques for categorical data (e.g., lag sequential analysis, polar coordinate analysis, and detection of T-Patterns) obtaining quantitative results that can be qualitatively interpreted in the third and last stage (QUAL stage) based on the research problem. All this leads to a perfect integration (Anguera et al, 2017).…”

“…Each recorded session, indeed, provides a matrix of codes where each row represents the observed unit that expresses the co-occurrence of behaviors related to the dimensions of the two instruments. According to a quantification record process, the observational methodology provides the primary parameters of frequency, order, and duration organized based on a progressive order of inclusion (Bakeman, 1978;Anguera et al, 2017): from frequency (which supplies the least information) to duration (which adds time units besides the other two). Specifically, "the order parameter is crucial for detecting hidden structures through the quantitative analysis of relationships between different codes in systematized observational datasets" (Anguera et al, 2017, p. 6).…”

“…The systematic observation, deriving from this approach and considered being mixed methods in itself, represents the best technique and/or method to analyzed communication-alliance interactions since it offers both rigor and flexibility (Anguera et al, 2018), as proven by the broad range of observation tools created to analyze psychotherapy (e.g., Arias-Pujol and Anguera, 2017;Del Giacco et al, 2019) or other research areas (e.g., education, García-Fariña et al, 2018;sport, Tarragó et al, 2017). This scientific procedure, indeed, allows collecting qualitative data in observational records that are quantitized (Tashakkori and Teddlie, 1998) to obtain primary parameters (frequency, order, and duration) for carrying out quantitative analyses and identifying relationships between behaviors in systematized observational datasets (Anguera et al, 2017). In this study, we systematically observed the interactions between communication (as an integrated system of verbal and non-verbal dimensions) and the early TA construction in a group of depressed patients who show difficulties in developing and maintaining such a collaborative relationship because of their personality profile.…”

Preliminary Checklist for Reporting Observational Studies in Sports Areas: Content Validity

“…The concrete field of observational methodology, as applied to sports, currently benefits from the advanced development of statistical analyses and specific software to study men and women's sports-related behaviors in order to obtain indicators to improve their performance (Anguera and Hernández-Mendo, 2015; Anguera et al, 2017, 2018). For example, (1) sequential analysis of behaviors using SDIS-GSEQ software (Bakeman and Quera, 2011) has been developed to establish model sequences by high-level sportsmen and women (Castelão et al, 2015); (2) the use of polar coordinate analysis by means of HOISAN software (Hernández-Mendo et al, 2012) enables the study of interrelations between different categories of observational tools in different sports, such as tae kwon do (López-López et al, 2015), handball (Sousa et al, 2015), or soccer (Castellano and Hernández-Mendo, 2003; Castañer et al, 2016); and (3) T-pattern analysis using Theme software (Magnusson, 1996, 2000) can be applied to discover hidden structures in the observed behavior that are not directly visible in elite climbing (Arbulu et al, 2016), futsal (hard-court soccer, Sarmento et al, 2016), synchronized swimming (Iglesias et al, 2015), or bouts epee (fencing, Tarrag et al, 2015).…”

Technical readiness of young basketball players with different profile of functional asymmetry

“…In order to ensure the reliable motor actions, an athlete should have both interhemispheric correlation [6] and their functional asymmetry [7,8], which have been predetermined by genetic mechanisms [3]. However, it is believed that sports session can affect the direction and degree of morphological and functional asymmetry [5,9].…”