Science represents classified pieces of knowledge within the area of a given subject. The process which assists in gaining information in a systematic and organized way (through a sophisticated plan) and in creating pieces of knowledge on the basis of facts in interrelation with other facts is description and explanation. Knowledge is objective and verifiable; the validity of the procedure can be verified by a different researcher.
The aims of science are as follows:
Description
Explanation
Prediction
Understanding of events
Control
Kerlinger (1972) defines scientific theory in the following way: “Theory is a set of interrelated constructions (terms), definitions and claims which represents a systematic view of phenomena through specifying relations between variables with the aim to explain and predict such phenomena”.
Scientific theory is a system of terms and claims which represent real phenomena with the possibility to describe, explain, predict, understand and control. Research process is cyclic and iterative.
Science as a special form of knowledge has the aim to tell and describe various structures and relationships in this world and explain them rationally. Scientific knowledge differs from everyday knowledge in systematic planning and systematic order of pieces of knowledge. Everyday knowledge forms the basis. Scientific knowledge transcends it attempting to gain general, objective and verifiable pieces of knowledge which are related to a certain subject. The pillars of scientific knowledge are theory and empiric research. Theory and models are constructed in order to explain the world around us. They are also means of communication. Theories represent a view of phenomena at given time. Sometimes, researches develop completely different theories about the same phenomena because science develops through testing, reformulating and rejecting individual theories depending on how they proved.
Research can be characterized as follows:
It is a process of gathering data
It is systematic
It questions the knowledge so far and makes a synthesis
It leads to widening knowledge
It is a combination of all of the above characteristics
One of requirements is also to realize that research should be controlled by existing theories and hypotheses derived from such theories. Research can be carried out through various schemes and models which assist us in applying repeatable and verifiable research. It means that others can understand our results and review or repeat the whole research. It is supposed that research is more successful if we stick to a suitable research model. For preliminary demonstration, one of the models is presented in relation with everyday thinking on the one hand and with the structure of a standard scientific paper on the other.
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Scientific Paper Model |
Everyday Thinking |
Paper Structure |
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Scientific question |
Why |
Introduction |
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Suggesting a theory |
Our answer |
Introduction |
|
Identifying variables |
What to observe |
Methods |
|
Defining hypotheses |
Expectation |
Methods |
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Research plan Gathering data, testing hypotheses |
How Gathering/analyzing data |
Methods Results |
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Evaluating results |
What does it mean |
Discussion |
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Critical summary |
What is the meaning |
Conclusions |
The basic stages of creating the final paper are:
Defining the problem
Background research in literature
Specifying aims of the work and defining the plan to accomplish the target (project proposal)
Implementing the plan
Analyzing data and reflection
Composing the final paper
KINANTHROPOLOGY AS A SCIENCE ON HUMAN MOVEMENT
The word Kinanthropology comes from Greek; it appeared by joining the following words:
kinésis (to move)
anthrópos (human)
logos (word)
Just like every science, it includes:
research methodology
research subject
scientific language
theory
1) Methodology is a specific theory and science about principles, strategies, procedures, tools and ways of research to get into the heart of the given issue with the aim to:
present scientific facts on motorics of humans and their motor activity
reveal the rules and patterns of its function
create a comprehensive scientific system of human motorics as a phenomenon and process
- in regular population
- in physically disadvantaged population
- in performance and top athletes
2) The subject of kinanthropology is researching into:
the substance of the phenomena of human motorics – into its internal and external forms of manifestation
the process aspects of human motor activities, education and learning about its effect on physical, functional, motor, psychic and social development of a human via motor activities
the individual and social aspects of human motor ability in social-cultural interactive environment and its historical-genetic, real and prognostic dimension
The easiest way to define the subject of kinanthropology could be formalized by one of the possibilities below:
researching a human in motion
researching human movement
researching human motorics (motor activity)
researching physical (motor) activity of a human
researching human kinetics
3) Scientific language is a system of precisely defined terms and categories which enable us to understand expressed facts and created theories and rules.
4) Theory is a system of scientific and empiric pieces of knowledge about:
facts about phenomena and process of the subject of kinanthropology
rules and principles
hypotheses
formulating scientific language