Research in the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education is aimed at understanding the science of human movement, exercise, and physical activity from multiple perspectives that include pedagogy, motor development, sociology, psychology, physiology, biomechanics, ergonometrics, kinesthetics, artistry, rehabilitation, management, and lifespan science. From an understanding of movement arises the goal of KNPE to meet the needs of our community by applying this knowledge for the betterment of all.
Research is a valued and shared enterprise encompassing faculty, students, and the community. The department’s academic focus spans the movement sciences with a focus that ranges from laboratory to field-based research that is both quantitative and qualitative. In the pedagogy area the focus centers on action-research and in the area of dance on artistic performance while physiological endeavors attempt to improve athletic performance and fitness, just to name a few. Therefore, faculty in the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education engage in scholarly activities as a function of the faculty member’s discipline as well as their individual expertise. Faculty members disseminate and publish their results by presenting at conferences and writing in recognized journals in their field. In addition, faculty involvement in professional and scholarly leadership roles such as heads of research consortiums and journal editorships, as well as editorial reviewers within their disciplines and government bodies, are highly valued. Moreover, faculty work with and mentor students to produce scholarly contributions of high quality. The union of faculty, students, and the community working together to understand who we are as movers constitutes the core of who we are as scholars.
