Scheduled for Dance Symposia: Part 1. Scholarship in Dance. Part 2. Choreography as Research, Wednesday, March 14, 2007, 3:15 PM - 5:15 PM, Convention Center: 327


A 15-Year Review of Dance Research Presented at AAHPERD National Conventions Through the Research Consortium, 1992--2006

Marita K. Cardinal, Western Oregon University, Monmouth, OR and Bradley J. Cardinal, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR

The Research Consortium coordinates the presentation of original, peer-reviewed research annually at the AAHPERD national convention. Since 1992, abstracts of these presentations have been published in supplements of Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport (RQES). In a previous study by Cardinal and Cardinal (2002), the amount of dance research presented between 1992-1996 was significantly greater than the amount presented between 1997-2001. The current study extends the previous study by examining an additional 5 years of research presentations (2002-2006), including a recoding of major dance research topics. The study methodology involved a content analysis of each published abstract within the Dance section of each RQES supplement, 1992-2006. The numbers of presentations, presenters, and institutions, as well as topical areas represented over the 15-year time period were catalogued, with descriptive and inferential statistics used to analyze trends. Seventy-six peer-reviewed dance presentations were given between 1992-2006. In 5-year intervals, the M number of presentations/year was: 9.2, 2.8, and 3.2 (for 1992-1996, 1997-2001, and 2002-2006, respectively; p <.02 for trend). These presentations centered around five general research topics: Dance Education (n=36), Dance Science/Health Issues (n=16), Choreography/Creative Process (n=10), Historical/Philosophical/Sociocultural Issues (n=8), and Research Methods (n=6). In 5-year intervals, the M number of dance presenters/co-presenters/year was: 13.4, 4.0, and 5.0 (for 1992-1996, 1997-2001, and 2002-2006, respectively; p <.02 for trend). Seventy-six different people presented/co-presented during this time span. The vast majority of people presented/co-presented only once (72.6%). Four people presented/co-presented at least four times, which constitutes 27.6% of the total number of dance presentations given: P. Brightman (n=6), M.K. Cardinal (n=6), P. Côté/Côté-Laurence (n=5), and S.A. Moseley (n=4). In 5-year intervals, the M number of different institutions represented on dance presentations/year was: 8.2, 3.2, and 3.6 (for 1992-1996, 1997-2001, and 2002-2006, respectively; p <.05 for trend). Overall, 43 institutions were represented, with six institutions accounting for 34.2% of the total number of dance presentations given and 48.8% of the institutions listed only once. The institutions with the highest presentation frequencies were: Brock University (n=5), University of North Carolina-Greensboro (n=5), North Georgia College & State University (n=4), Texas Christian University (n=4), University of Alberta (n=4), and University of Quebec-Montreal (n=4). It is interesting to note that three of these institutions are Canadian. While still low in comparison to the 1992-1996 time period, the comparative data for 1997-2001 and 2002-2006 revealed no significant differences. Strategies for encouraging more dance research will be offered.
Keyword(s): college level issues, dance, research

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