Kinesiology’s Knowledge Production, Mass Translation, and Utilization Problem: Critical Appraisal and Theoretical Analysis of Physical Activity Websites
Through this dissertation, the quality of freely available physical activity promotion web articles that lay adults would likely locate online was critically appraised and theoretically analyzed. Three broad categories were considered. They were 1) message consistency with national health guidelines for physical activity; 2) suitability for health-related communication; and 3) use of evidence-based concepts from theories of health behavior. The results of this dissertation indicate that physical activity promotion web articles that communicate primarily through text have multiple qualities that enhance their message appeal and potential to be effective, largely irrespective of production source but not always the case. The results also suggest that the educational value of such web articles is undermined in two ways: 1) correctable suitability issues and 2) the use of messages inconsistent with national physical activity health guidelines. These issues which mitigated web article quality were general to web articles irrespective of production source. Though slow, knowledge translation of kinesiology is happening and the rate may vary depending on the quality indicator. Collaborations between scholars and organizations that produce freely available physical activity resources are needed. From them, safety nets can emerge that works towards two key aims. First, sensitize producers and developers to basic knowledge in kinesiology for achieving health and physical fitness through physical activity. Second, sensitize producers and developers to issues that detract from the educational quality of physical activity resources—then build capacity to address them. Towards these two aims, advice for helping to ensure the quality dissemination of physical activity resources were advanced within the Discussion section, as well as direction for future research aimed at closing the “science gap” in knowledge translation
