Abstract: For the purpose of improving the scientific and normative research methods applied in sports science to promote its benign development, 5 scholars were invited by the journal to discuss the differences, misunderstandings and countermeasures in the qualitative and quantitative research of sports science. HU Xiaoqian of Tsinghua University holds that there exist differences at intuitive, operational, and essential levels in the qualitative and quantitative research. While intuitive difference is the external manifestation of these two researches, operational difference is the direct standard to judge them, and essential difference not only leads to the two differences above, but is the root cause for social science researchers to choose which research method should be adopted. XIONG Huan from Shanghai University of Sport believes that four misunderstandings appear in the qualitative research of sports science, namely, cognition, research design, logical reasoning and operation. When using or evaluating specific qualitative research, it is necessary to consider the integrity of its design, execution and analysis, as well as the applications of its findings in certain research background. WANG Fubaihui from China Institute of Sport Science insists that we should be alert to the tendency of "quantitative first" in sports science research when the quantitative research ability is expected to be improved. The logical starting point of quantitative research is the balance between thought and methods, hence on one hand we should use scientific methods, and maintain the attitude of theoretical reflection on the other hand. LI Gang from Shanghai Normal University thinks that, at present, the quantitative research of sports science in China mainly has problems in sample data, index setting, measurement model and result interpretation. Therefore, researchers should build up confidence, practice internal skills, base themselves on reality and adhere to ethics. LI Xiaotian from Capital University of Physical Education and Sports holds that there exist such problems in sports science research as weak theoretical foundation, research design defects, model selection bias, etc. Therefore, the first step to improve the quality of research should be to strengthen problem consciousness and innovate Chinese sports science theory. At the same time, it is necessary to improve the causal inference method, the application of data mining and the integration of interdisciplinary methods.