Benefits of Physical Exercise: Analytical Essay

Walter et al. (2004) recommend that it ‘should be systemically embedded as part of an organization’s culture, in the expectation that practitioners will engage in individual research as part of their ongoing responsibility for keeping up to date (The Open University, 2019). Practitioner research can enhance your practice and improve your knowledge and it could also be beneficial not only to the individuals you work with but also sharing your research results could benefit colleagues. Practitioner research can be used as evidence to inform your practice and could lead to new knowledge, policies, and funding opportunities. As Professor Jane Aldgate stated 'I don’t see how anybody can possibly offer the best social work service to an individual, without knowing what has worked in the past for other individuals' (The Open University, 2019). Within this essay, I will be conducting a literature review of four sources that provided background and contextual information for my own proposed research topic.

I am based within a Criminal Justice Social Work department within a local authority. I have a legal requirement within my job role to supervise offenders who are on a Community Payback Order (Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010). Part of working with service users who are subjected to a court order is to not only ensure they are complying with their order but to support them by looking at their offending behavior by using a holistic approach in relation to other aspects of their lives that could have been contributing factors of their offenses. So what works for reducing offending behavior within the communities for individuals and can physical exercise help those involved within the criminal justice system?

1st Peer review document

Title and reference for journal article selected Supportive environments for physical activity in deprived communities in the United Kingdom: A qualitative study using photo elicitation

• Sawyer, Alexia; Ucci, Marcella; Jones, Russell; Smith, Lee; Fisher, Abi
• Social Science & Medicine, January 2018, Vol.197, pp.49-58

Topic area The research highlighted difficulties in relation to the type of barriers in the way of physical exercise within deprived communities.

Research question (if applicable)

To explore environmental factors contributing to the structure of an activity-supportive neighborhood in two different deprived areas in Glasgow.

Key findings/arguments • Method used for the research was participant photography which is used in face-to-face, semi-structured photo-elicitation interviews.

• Photo-elicitation interviews have benefits over other methods of interviews as it engages participants to take an active role.
• The researchers are hoping their findings will inform further research into neighborhood-based, outdoor physical activity.
• The findings from the research underline the value of an ecological approach to the study of community-based physical activity and suggest interventions addressing the social, physical, and economic environment may be needed to support physical activity in deprived areas.
• The research highlighted difficulties in relation to the type of barriers in the way of physical exercise within communities and what could potentially be implemented to help promote communities to exercise.

How it connects with your area of practice Working within a deprived area in Scotland I wanted to find research in relation to physical exercise within a similar area.

How it informs your choice of topic for your practitioner research project It made me think of research being conducted if those barriers are addressed and how the communities respond to the promotion of physical exercise.

Any ethical questions you perceive it raises. Participants did not have their thoughts gathered and shared afterward.

2nd Peer review document

Title and reference for journal article selected Sport in a youth prison: male young offenders' experiences of a sporting intervention

1. Parker, Andrew; Meek, Rosie; Lewis, Gwen
2. Journal of Youth Studies, 04 August 2013, p.1-16

Topic area The purpose of the research was to gain insight into sports-based interventions within a young person's secure setting.

Research question (if applicable)

Sporting activities have psychological and emotional benefits, the study was looking at sports-based interventions within secure settings. By looking at motivating factors of the participant engagement whilst exploring personal development.

Key findings/arguments

• A small-scale qualitative study by interviewing two participants who were within the secure unit gathering their views before and during the research
• The research journal also uses evidence-based literature and resistance literature.
• The authors noted their findings well and did not appear distorted, the authors discussed their findings and what is lacking in regards to insufficient integrations between custody and communities.

How it connects with your area of practice Gaining insight into what interventions worked for young people involved in criminal justice.

How it informs your choice of topic for your practitioner research project It showed me that physical exercise has a great impact on individuals within secure settings.

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Any ethical questions you perceive it raises.

• The participants who helped with the research are named and not made confidential. There is no evidence or written details to inform that the names have been changed for confidentiality purposes.
• To avoid the document being biased it would have been better if the researchers conducted studies within different secure units within Wales and Scotland.

My first other sources of material:

Title and reference for journal article selected What Works to Reduce Reoffending: A Summary of the Evidence

• Published: 8 May 2015
• Part of: Research
• ISBN: 9781785443336

Topic area The document draws on published journal articles, reports, and books from government bodies, independent researchers, and academics into what works to reduce reoffending.

Research question (if applicable)

This evidence review was undertaken to support thinking regarding what works to reduce reoffending. The aim of the review was to examine the research into reducing reoffending and the processes by which individuals desist from offending.

Key findings/arguments • Interventions that help offenders find employment, develop appropriate networks, enhance family relationships s, and increase levels of motivation to change have been found to have the most positive impact on reducing reoffending.

• Several goals including reform of sentencing policy and an explicit aim of ensuring effective reintegration into the community by ensuring that employment, health, accommodation, and other needs are met. It appears that the Scottish Government is focusing on health as a support and rehabilitation.
• I felt the policy document was clear in content and well presented however I would like for evidence to be presented within the document.

How it connects with your area of practice I am currently in a Criminal Justice placement which is overseen by the Scottish Government so I felt it appropriate not only for my own personal development but also for how I could work with service users.

How it informs your choice of topic for your practitioner research project It stated that non-criminogenic needs may have an indirect link with reoffending. I researched this and found them to be a lack of self-esteem, poor physical health, anxiety, and depression. This research informs us that Physical exercise/activity benefits are not just decreasing the risk of illnesses but also improving mental health and can reduce stress, depression, anxiety, and improve your mood but also includes improving self-esteem and overall improving your quality of life.

Any ethical questions you perceive it raises. It refers to evidence from research that had been conducted in different countries, given this is a reviewed document from 2011, to avoid any biased opinion of what the Scottish Government does perceive to be effective. Research evidence from areas in Scotland would have given their document better grounding for appropriate implementation of these areas to reduce re/offending.

The second source of material:

Title and reference for journal article selected 'Cashback for Communities' Partners - Website

Celtic Fc Foundation

Topic area The information showed activities were funded by criminal proceedings to benefit young people disadvantaged by:-

• Living in areas of deprivation
• Being unemployed, not in education or training
• Becoming or already involved in offending/re-offending

Research question (if applicable)

The Scottish government has stated that certain people are at risk because of their environments. And their aim is to target prevention, education, and early-year support to address the adverse childhood experiences that define the lives of so many future offenders.

Key findings/arguments • The project delivery includes motivation, Confidence Building; Health and Wellbeing; Physical Activity, and many more.

• I felt the information recorded was well presented and answered, what the program does and what it has been created, and who it targets.
• No mention of methods recorded. However, there are studies/real-life stories within the document and statistical data providing figures on performance, activities, etc for each local authority in Scotland.
• Engaging within a program can lead to employment.

How it connects with your area of practice This project looks at working with young people who have been involved with offending behavior to reduce this and prevent further offending. The project will liaise with Criminal Justice Social Work Departments.

How it informs your choice of topic for your practitioner research project The program seeks to reduce criminal behavior amongst young people through sports activities. This project looks at providing developmental opportunities to increase confidence and self-esteem, change behaviors and attitudes and improve physical and mental wellbeing.

Any ethical questions you perceive it raises. Within the webpage, there are real-life stories of young people it does not state the consent process or any confidentiality for the young people being interviewed.

Conclusion

Practitioner research offers viable and interesting ways for practitioners to further develop research skills to influence practice. I felt by engaging in research allowed me to think of any gaps in knowledge, for example, by focusing on unrepresented groups of individuals involved in offending behavior. ‘Less powerful or minority groups tend to become oppressed and disadvantaged and that health and social care services and professionals are so much a part of the status quo that they inevitably and unconsciously play a part in this structured oppression’ (Glaister, A. (2008) I found by researching and evaluating my four chosen documents it encouraged me to think of my own proposed research and what I had failed to find in regards to a search conducted to the benefits of physical exercise within the community to reduce reoffending. It appears through my two chosen peer-reviewed documents that deprived areas within Scotland had lacking resources for people to access although potential barriers were noted such as safety however it was clear the residents who participated in the research felt a lack of community spirit if the communities had more resources then the chance or this community spirit may increase. Within my second peer-reviewed document evidence from the research showed that physical exercise within a secure setting was very positive and had a great impact on those involved however it failed to transition during reintegration into the communities. My two chosen other sources of materials a policy document and information from a website highlighted a real holistic approach as being beneficial in reducing re/offending behavior. It appears the Scottish Government has a drive on looking at early intervention in regards to adverse childhood to prevent poor outcomes such as offending behavior however what about adults? I struggled to find any sources looking at the benefits of physical exercise and offending behavior out in prison settings so this has allowed me to refine my topic of research.