The Research Chair-elect will automatically succeed to the office of the Research Chair immediately after the last SWD Board meeting at the annual convention. This code may be revised upon recommendation of the Division officers, the Constitution and Codes Committee and approved by the Southwest District Board of Directors. The Southwest District of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, in compliance with its responsibilities to sponsor scholarship among its members, seeks to recognize those who enrich the depth and scope of health, leisure, sport and movement related activities by generating and disseminating findings to the profession and the public. It is important to clarify the difference between a scholar and a researcher. Because this award is under the auspices of the Research Section, there may be a tendency to overemphasize the role of researcher for this Scholar Award.
Scholarly activity is more general or encompassing than research.
Scholarly activity encompasses both acquisition and dissemination behaviors. Acquisition can occur through observation, experimentation, reading, or hearing, while dissemination may be the result of performing, writing, or speaking. Normally a researcher is thought of as a technician, primarily concerned with the acquisition of new knowledge. A scholar generally has a more global view of the discipline and although they do research they also create and communicate new ideas. This award is intended to recognize those scholars who have advanced our understanding of health, exercise, and movement.