Indigenous research methodologies: decolonizing the Australian sports sciences.

Area of Science:

• Indigenous Health
• Exercise Science
• Community-Based Participatory Research

Background:

• Understanding Indigenous Australians' perspectives on physical activity is crucial for effective health interventions.
• Existing research may not adequately capture the unique cultural contexts and lived experiences influencing exercise behaviors in Indigenous communities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and prepare a culturally safe questionnaire assessing Indigenous individuals' perceptions of barriers and motivators to exercise.
• To identify factors impacting the uptake and retention of regular physical activity within an Indigenous population.

Main Methods:

• Employed Indigenous Standpoint Theory and Participatory Action Research principles.
• Conducted consultation meetings with the Noongar Aboriginal community for questionnaire development.
• Ensured cultural appropriateness through continuous community feedback and piloting.

Main Results:

• The questionnaire development process prioritized community input and cultural safety.
• Reliability assessments indicated excellent internal consistency for most questions.
• Consensus was reached on the questionnaire's utility and acceptability within the Noongar community.

Conclusions:

• The article presents a model for culturally safe research on physical activity among Indigenous peoples.
• Community-driven development is essential for creating acceptable and effective health research tools.
• The prepared questionnaire serves as a valuable instrument for future research on Indigenous exercise behaviors.