Research lives of physical education teacher educators

Eileen McEvoy, Ann MacPhail, Pilvikki Heikinaro-Johansson

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    This paper aims to provide insights into the research worlds of an international group of mid- and late-career physical education teacher educators. Specifically, it explores participants’ motives for research engagement and choices, and investigates what challenges and facilitates their research efforts. Two rounds of individual in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 physical education teacher educators across 7 countries. Findings point to a distinction between research motives. Embarking on formal theses or specific funded projects was often motivated by practical and contextual drivers, such as job requirements or a wish for promotion, and was associated with feelings of frustration and stress. Motives for engaging in research in general, on the other hand, tended to be more personal or altruistic and elicited feelings such as enjoyment and passion. Time constraints, skill gaps and language barriers were all seen as challenges to research endeavours, while learning through doing, seeing and reading, and collaboration with others were seen as the main facilitators.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)90-103
    Number of pages14
    JournalCurriculum Studies in Health and Physical Education
    Volume9
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2 Jan 2018

    Keywords

    • Physical education
    • researcher
    • teacher educator

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Research lives of physical education teacher educators'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this