Research Methods in the Dance Sciences

This book explains how to design and carry out sound empirical studies in the dance sciences, a field that overlaps with medical research. It sets out the foundational ideas and working methods needed by anyone who hopes to understand research, apply it, or conduct studies involving dancers. It also argues for closer teamwork among the several disciplines that frequently overlap in this area.

The chapters are written by researchers active in dance medicine and science and follow the research process from beginning to end. Readers learn how to choose a research question, write a literature review, develop a conceptual framework and methodology, influence the wider field, and plan a long-term research career. Throughout, the authors draw on examples from dance to show how each step works in practice.

The aim is to help readers build a dependable set of research skills for examining dance and other movement-centered activities. The intended audience includes practicing and aspiring dancers, dance teachers, and clinicians, as well as professionals in exercise physiology, motor learning, behavioral sciences, food sciences, medicine, psychology, and somatics who are interested in dance science research.