Table 2:

Priority research topics in sport and physical activity and associated research questions

Theme	Research priorities and definitions	Research questions associated with priorities
Community knowledge development	Financial support for sport and physical activity: Several government and community-driven financial aid programs aim to reduce barriers to sport and participation in physical activity related to ability to pay. Communicating availability of such programs to those who could benefit from them is a challenge.	Are current government funding structures adequate to support participation in sport and physical activity? Which mechanisms are the most effective in removing or minimizing financial barriers associated with participation in sport and physical activity? What are the best ways to inform families and stakeholders about available financial aid programs? How can we specifically target those most in need of financial aid programs, and how can we make it easier for them to apply?
	Communications for optimal promotion of sport and physical activity: Adopting targeted communication interventions will help to convey the importance of participation in sport and physical activity. Still, moving away from general promotion strategies requires identification of the communication strategies best suited for different subgroups.	Which approaches are best for communicating the importance of sport and physical activity? Are there communication strategies or tactics for specific subgroups that can be activated to ensure effective and accessible messaging regarding the importance of participation in sport and physical activity? Which strategies are best for building awareness among specific subgroups regarding the benefits of participation in sport and physical activity?
	Consequences of dropping out of sport and physical activity: Many general, positive impacts of participating in sport and physical activity are considered common knowledge. However, information is lacking on the moderate-to long-term consequences of dropping out of sport and physical activity.	What are the short-, medium- and long-term consequences of dropping out of sport and physical activity programming on physical health, mental health, social development, the environment, the community, etc.?
	Characteristics of best interventions for participation in sport and physical activity: Readily available information is lacking on 2 fronts: what constitutes proven intervention strategies, and what are the gaps in knowledge in terms of promoting sustainment of sport and participation in physical activity within various population groups.	What are key characteristics of effective interventions to promote engagement of the population in sport and physical activity? What are key characteristics of effective interventions to promote retention of participants in sport and physical activity?
Sociocultural factors	Participation in sport and physical activity among Indigenous populations: Low levels of sport and physical activity also affect Indigenous populations.33^,34 As the sample did not adequately represent Indigenous people, the study was unable to provide clear direction for this sector. However, the emergence of this topic highlights the need to investigate sport and physical activity research priorities in collaboration with members, leaders and elders of the targeted communities.	What are the sport- and physical activity–related research priorities of Indigenous populations within their communities?
Interventions	Sustaining volunteer engagement in sport and physical activity: To function and deliver its programs, the sport and physical activity sector relies heavily on volunteer engagement.35 Stakeholders therefore desire better understanding of how to engage and retain volunteers.	What are the facilitators and barriers to volunteering in sport and physical activity? What are the determinants of long-term volunteer engagement in sport and physical activity? Which approaches are most effective for engaging and retaining volunteers in the delivery of sport and physical activity programs?
Policies, resources and training	Promoting safe, inclusive and quality experiences in sport and physical activity: There is a need for better knowledge on how to best promote values of equity, diversity and inclusion within sport and physical activity systems. Evidence-based strategies are needed to confront bullying and to promote safe, positive and inclusive experiences.	Which approaches are effective in equipping sport leaders and participants with the skills needed to promote a positive and inclusive environment for all, including members of underrepresented and equity-seeking groups? Which strategies are effective in reducing bullying and intimidation within organized sport and physical activity programming?
Policies, resources and training	Knowledge exchange between researchers and knowledge users: Engaging those who have the power to implement their findings or those most affected by research into research processes has the potential to more rapidly address the challenges of low levels of participation in sport and physical activity. There is a need to address the gap between researchers and stakeholders.	What are the facilitators and barriers to building iterative and reciprocal collaborative relationships between researchers and knowledge users? Which are the best approaches for engaging knowledge users in the knowledge-to-action framework?