ERIC Number: EJ1288676
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2021
Pages: 20
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0033-6297
EISSN: N/A
Volunteer Bias and Female Participation in Exercise and Sports Science Research
Quest, v73 n1 p82-101 2021
In 1973, Harriet Williams published in "Quest" on volunteer bias (self-selection bias) in kinesiology research. Williams' evidence-based commentary included a discussion on sex differences in volunteerism. More recently, some exercise and sports scientists (ESS) have suggested "investigator" bias explains the lower proportion of female than male participants in ESS research. Here, I explain volunteer bias warrants consideration in contemporary discussions on female participation in ESS research. I discuss sex differences in willingness to participate in certain research and how this corresponds to sex differences in personality traits and interests. I explain that sex differences in disease prevalence and physical activity participation also likely contribute to sex differences in ESS research participation. I conclude that, moving forward, evidence-based historical interpretations of female participation in ESS research are required, and future research should seek to establish a causal model of ESS research participation that considers both investigator and volunteer bias.
Descriptors: Volunteers, Gender Differences, Researchers, Sampling, Exercise, Athletics, Bias, Females, Diseases, Incidence, Physical Activities, Participation, Risk, Pain, Interests
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A