Understanding implementation and change in complex interventions. From single- to multi-methodological research on the promotion of youths’ participation in physical education

Abstract

Existing studies on complex interventions aiming to promote youths’ participation in physical education (PE) appear to be predominantly single-methodological. The aim of this article is to examine the benefits and challenges of evaluating an intervention to increase youths’ participation and experiences of social inclusion in the PE context using a multi-method approach integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches. The multi-method approach allowed an integration of the findings with regard to the implementation as well as the effect of the intervention. First of all, standardized questionnaires provided a manipulation check of the delivery of the intervention, while qualitative observations and interviews identified the diversity in pupils’ reactions thereto. Secondly, quantitative findings on the effect of the intervention were related to qualitative findings pointing to ambiguities in the pupils’ observed behaviour and interview responses. Thus, a more complete understanding of the implementation processes and effect of the intervention developed.

Acknowledgements

We thank the PhD-council for Educational Research and Nordea-fonden for support to the qualitative and quantitative studies, respectively. Also we thank colleagues at Centre for Team Sport and Health, University of Copenhagen, and at Kosmos, University College Syddanmark for their contribution to the development and analysis of the intervention. Last but not least we thank the participating school, the teachers and the pupils for their willingness to participate and to answer all of our questions.

Notes

1. A search was made in the database Scopus with the terms (physical education or PE) and (inclusion or participation) and (child* or adolescent*) and mixed method*. The result was only 20 hits of which the subject area was only reported as social sciences for 4 of the studies.