Research Assignment

The Role of Sports on Improved Whole Child Development in School

1. Choose a General Research Design: Based on the previous draft and feedback, it's now time to commit to one of the following approaches: Quantitative, Qualitative, or Mixed-Methods. Indicate which approach you are using by highlighting in yellow so your instructor can clearly see how you are framing your research.

2. Research Topic: (As you continue refine this as needed, focus on writing it as the title for your research proposal. Refer to journal articles for ideas on how to write a scientific study title.)

As identified previously, this research explores the overall aspect of sports and recreational activities that enhance children's activeness in exercise or physical practice for their whole self-development in the areas related to social-emotional, physical, cognitive, and creative domains. Besides the self-driven inspiration to conduct this research, the desire to help professionals address the system-based challenges to promote a healthy school life across all identified domains is an influential factor in this research. Furthermore, this research entails constructing an integrated approach to coordinate physical, social-emotional, creative, and cognitive components at the school environment, examined from the professional experiences, opinions, and observation. As a result, the construction of this study's topic relies upon the desire to build or nurture all-rounded learners who are creative, cognitively superb, physically fit, and socially emotionally intelligent. Therefore, in enhancing the previously identified topic, this research will explore the following topic: The Role of Sports on Improved Whole Child Development in School.

3. Problem Statement: (Based on feedback from Draft 1, revise and rewrite your problem statement here.)

There is vast information regarding the essence of curricular activities on educational and cognitive development, defined by success factors. However, roles of extra-curricular or sports activities in whole child development touching all domains of development are inadequately explored in schools, tuning the learning institutions into a one-sided domain. Besides, the concentration on academics only has made most schools less sensitive or insensitive to all development domains, including the social-emotional, physical, cognitive, and creative, rather than focusing only on cognitive prowess. Nevertheless, the need to remain physically active is limitedly incorporated in the school environment, confirming why learners are prone to some severe diseases such as obesity, above-average body mass index (BMI), etc. As a result, physical inactivity is an influential factor for enhancing the public's interest in getting involved in their children's development through physical activeness in kids. It is crucial to consider there are complexities in the school environment, which could be highly stressful, affecting the children's emotions, social networks, where physical inactivity makes them highly vulnerable to external challenges. Thus, professionals learning the need or role of sports in the school environment is an interesting factor in cultivating a sports culture, where children can grow cognitively, physically, creatively, and socially-emotionally.

4. Research Question: (Based on feedback, write your main research question here.)

RQ. What is the role of sports in improving whole child development in school?

a. Hypothesis: (Additionally for quantitative approaches, state your hypothesis as either H0, H, or H1.)

5. Variables: (Even if you are 100% sure, it's important that you practice articulating your study variables in clear, measurable terms.)

a. Dependent Variable:

b. If applicable, Independent Variable (s):

c. If applicable, Intervening Variable (s):

6. Theoretical Framework and/or Conceptual Model: (Based on feedback from the previous draft, state the formal theory or conceptual model you are using. Explain how this helps you to better understand your topic and how you will apply it to your research proposal.)

This research will be executed based on an evidence-based conceptual model justifying the role of sports in development because of the interaction between the individual and environmental factors. This conceptual model helps me understand this topic by revealing child development as an outcome of inter-factor interactions in the environment and individual space. Furthermore, I will apply this model to reveal that whole child development and sport-related outcomes as dependent phenomena on the individual and environmental factors.

7. Statement of Purpose: (Based on any applicable feedback, revise and rewrite your statement of purpose here.)

As numerous studies explore the contribution of curricular activities in child development, it is essential to examine the role of sports on the child's health, behavior, education, and social-emotional aspects. Furthermore, this research explores changes in the physical, cognitive, creative, and social-emotional skills after involvement in sports—examining the novel factors related to physical activeness and interaction of environmental and personal factors. Additionally, the long-term objective of this research is to enhance the knowledge on the management of child development through active involvement in physical activity. Besides, this research provides a platform for addressing children's developmental needs as they arise from all domains: physical, cognitive, creative, and social-emotional spheres.

8. Statement of Significance: (Using information from presentations and readings, write your statement of significance here. In addition, choose (by checking a box) one of the following rationales for which your study may have potential significance.)

This research justifies the need for professionals' diligence in promoting whole child development in school by incorporating the role of sports in practice. This study stands a chance for providing strategies for emotional support and feedback through sports, essential for the educators and professionals dealing with children. Furthermore, it is a crucial platform for coaching the coaches to incorporate the cognitive, social-emotional, and creative domains on top of the physical domain to address the children's needs in sports. Besides, knowledge from this research is a crucial entity to advancing the children's behavior and attitudes. As a result, this research will form a background for the professionals in child development spheres to build objective and solution-focused approaches for ensuring an integrated development in children.

☒ Improve professional practice or service delivery

☐ Address a social problem

☐ Contribute to scientific knowledge

9. Sample: (Using information from presentations and readings, choose one of the sampling approaches below and state which specific sampling technique you plan to use & the projected sample size. Quantitative designs must project sample size using one of the online calculators recommended in the textbook and insert a screenshot below. Qualitative designs must provide a rationale for sample size linked to specific sampling technique.)

a. Probability Sampling:

i. Sample Size:

b. Nonprobability Sampling:

A nonprobability sampling approach is selected; specifically, purposive sampling is preferred for this qualitative research through the researcher's expertise to select the most appropriate sample for the identified purpose. It is a preferable sampling technique essential for obtaining detailed knowledge and information on a phenomenon. It entails considering the target audience's experiences and opinions regarding whole child development for the kids who are active in sports. The selection criteria include the following characteristics: be an educator or teacher, understand sports, and be active in school sports and classroom activities.

i. Sample Size:

A sample size of 30 participants is preferable for this study, which can be adjusted during the assessment based on the changes in the number of sites. Through this sample size, it is possible to obtain detailed and in-depth information from a limited small sample, making it effective for this selection.

10. References: (By now you should have at least, five different peer-reviewed articles. Under the corresponding subheadings below, list the following scholarly references in APA format.)

a. References included in previous drafts (If you made mistakes with previous references, correct them here):

Cairney, J., Dudley, D., Kwan, M., Bulten, R., & Kriellaars, D. (2019). Physical literacy, physical activity, and health: Toward an evidence-informed conceptual model. Sports Medicine, 49(3), 371-383. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-019-01063-3