Page 16 - 《上海体育大学学报》2024年第4期

专家组. 体育学质性与量化研究：差异、误区与应对

Differences, Misunderstandings and Countermeasures: Qualitative and Quantitative
Studies in Sports Science

Expert Panel

Abstract：For the purpose of improving the scientific and normative research methods applied in sports science to
promote its benign development, 5 scholars were invited by the journal to discuss the differences,
misunderstandings and countermeasures in the qualitative and quantitative research of sports science. HU Xiaoqian
of Tsinghua University holds that there exist differences at intuitive, operational, and essential levels in the
qualitative and quantitative research. While intuitive difference is the external manifestation of these two
researches, operational difference is the direct standard to judge them, and essential difference not only leads to the
two differences above, but is the root cause for social science researchers to choose which research method should
be adopted. XIONG Huan from Shanghai University of Sport believes that four misunderstandings appear in the
qualitative research of sports science, namely, cognition, research design, logical reasoning and operation. When
using or evaluating specific qualitative research, it is necessary to consider the integrity of its design, execution and
analysis, as well as the applications of its findings in certain research background. WANG Fubaihui from China
Institute of Sport Science insists that we should be alert to the tendency of "quantitative first" in sports science
research when the quantitative research ability is expected to be improved. The logical starting point of quantitative
research is the balance between thought and methods, hence on one hand we should use scientific methods, and
maintain the attitude of theoretical reflection on the other hand. LI Gang from Shanghai Normal University thinks
that, at present, the quantitative research of sports science in China mainly has problems in sample data, index
setting, measurement model and result interpretation. Therefore, researchers should build up confidence, practice
internal skills, base themselves on reality and adhere to ethics. LI Xiaotian from Capital University of Physical
Education and Sports holds that there exist such problems in sports science research as weak theoretical foundation,

research design defects, model selection bias, etc. Therefore, the first step to improve the quality of research should
be to strengthen problem consciousness and innovate Chinese sports science theory. At the same time, it is
necessary to improve the causal inference method, the application of data mining and the integration of
interdisciplinary methods.
Keywords：sports science; qualitative research; quantitative research; research method

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