How to ... be a reflective practitioner.

Reflexive methodology - new vistas for qualitative research: Media Reviews

QUITE apart from the academic consideration that vital and medical statistics now form an obligatory part of the education of students seeking the University of London's diploma in public health, the demand for information about the methods of vital and medical statistics is increasing. The most casual reader of the newspapers is now aware that population problems are of serious practical importance and that the publications of the General Register Office cannot be ignored. It is scarcely an exaggeration to say that the recently issued preliminary report on the census of 1931 is one of the most sensational documents which has appeared for years, and that he who reads it intelligently will understand what is meant by saying that civilisation is in the melting pot. An Introduction to Medical Statistics. By Hilda M. Woods William T. Russell. Pp. x + 125. (London: P. S. King and Son, Ltd., 1931.) 7s. 6d.

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An Introduction to Medical Statistics

Author Ray Pawson presents a devastating critique of the dominant approach to systematic review namely the 'meta-analytic' approach as sponsored by the Cochrane and Campbell collaborations. In its place is commended an approach that he terms 'realist synthesis'. On this vision, the real purpose of systematic review is better to understand program theory, so that policies Author Ray Pawson presents a devastating critique of the dominant approach to systematic review namely the 'meta-analytic' approach as sponsored by the Cochrane and Campbell collaborations. In its place is commended an approach that he terms 'realist synthesis'. On this vision, the real purpose of systematic review is better to understand program theory, so that policies can be properly targeted and developed to counter an ever-changing landscape of social problems. The book will be essential reading for all those who loved (or loathed) the arguments developed in Realistic Evaluation (Sage, 1997). It offers a complete blueprint for research synthesis, supported by detailed illustrations and worked examples from across the policy waterfront.

Evidence-based Policy: A Realist Perspective

The Racial Contract

In this paper, we propose different definitions of coaching excellence based on two principles. First, the application of coaching skill, as in any other domain of excellence, is context-dependent. Second, excellent coaches are knowledgeable and constantly assemble mental models that enable them to meet their athletes’ needs and to effectively manage the central duties of coaching – organization, training, and competition. Four categories of coaches and corresponding definitions are proposed based on the characteristics of athletes and the developmentally-appropriate sport contexts: 1) participation coaches for children, 2) participation coaches for teens and adults, 3) performance coaches for young adolescents, 4) performance coaches for older adolescents and adults.

Towards a Definition of Excellence in Sport Coaching

https://dspace.stir.ac.uk/bitstream/1893/7670/1/PSE3_2004.pdf

An investigation of potential users of career transition services in the United Kingdom

Research shapes our understanding of practice in powerful and important ways, in sports coaching as in any other discipline. This innovative study explores the philosophical foundations of sport coaching research, examining the often implicit links between research process and practice, descriptions and prescriptions.
Arguing that the assumptions of traditional single-disciplinary accounts, such as those based in psychology or sociology, risk over-simplifying our understanding of coaching, this book presents an alternative framework for sports coaching research based on critical realism. The result is an embedded, relational and emergent conception of coaching practice that opens new ways of thinking about coaching knowledge. Drawing on new empirical case study research, it demonstrates vividly how a critical realist-informed approach can provide a more realistic and accountable knowledge to coaching stakeholders. This knowledge promises to have important implications for coaching, and coach education and development practices. 
Sport Coaching Research and Practice: Ontology, Interdisciplinarity and Critical Realism is fascinating reading for any student or researcher working in sports coaching, sport pedagogy, physical education, the philosophy or sociology of sport, or research methodology in sport and exercise.

Sport Coaching Research and Practice: Ontology, Interdisciplinarity and Critical Realism

Research on coaching practice has mainly been undertaken through the disciplines of psychology and sociology. Very little scrutiny has been given to the philosophical underpinnings of these disciplinary positions and how they impact on research outputs in terms of descriptions and prescriptions. This article presents an overview of some of the most cited empirical research on coaching practice and shows how discipline and meta-theory have influenced a priori the results generated. Psychological approaches informed by scientism, and sociological approaches informed by interpretivism, present a dichotomized view of coaching practice, for example, concerning its relative simplicity and order. Yet these distinct disciplinary contributions remain important to the development of the field if it is understood that they contribute different layers of information and do different types of work. Once we have the meta-theoretical tools in place the results of this pluralism can be positioned and utilized.

/pdf/philosophical-underpinnings-of-coaching-practice-research-5f62ilcw23.pdf

Philosophical Underpinnings of Coaching Practice Research

In the United Kingdom (UK), a significant Government investment was made into recruiting, developing and deploying 45 ‘Coach Development Officers’ (CDOs). One of the CDOs' roles was to provide 1:1 development support to coaches - therefore establishing relations with, and facilitating and directly providing development opportunities for, practicing coaches. This article provides evidence of impact of the CDO's ‘coach developer’ role using qualitative interviews with 46 coaches who had received CDO support. The evidence suggests that the CDOs provided a range of services including access to information and signposting (for example, to workshops and mentoring opportunities), and direct support. It was these direct services - support through Training Needs Analysis (TNAs), Personal Development Plans (PDPs), observing sessions and providing feedback, and being an informal mentor or critical friend - which were the most valued.

Julian North

Papers

Towards a Definition of Excellence in Sport Coaching

An investigation of potential users of career transition services in the United Kingdom

Sport Coaching Research and Practice: Ontology, Interdisciplinarity and Critical Realism

Philosophical Underpinnings of Coaching Practice Research

Using ‘Coach Developers' to Facilitate Coach Learning and Development: Qualitative Evidence from the UK: