Einleitung

Consider the following ‘common-sense’ statements about the world of sport: -Physical education and sport promote a healthy lifestyle for young people. - Physical education and sport support young people in their individual development. - Physical education and sport help to keep young people off drugs and out of trouble.
These statements are examples of important claims made about the educational influence of sport and physical activity on young people’s overall development. Possibly you - like many people - would support these statements; yet what do we really know about them? Is there empirical evidence to support such statements... or are they no more than a set of myths? Lack of robust empirical evidence in the field means that there are a number of issues about which we cannot be certain whether we are dealing with realities or myths. Surveys offer one way of finding evidence about issues such as these. Generally speaking, the survey is a research technique that seeks to describe and analyse the previous, current or future behaviour, attitudes and opinions of a specified population. This chapter will introduce you to the scientific method of survey research and provide guidelines on how to conduct a survey in order to collect robust data.