Research and Design in Exercise

Science
 What is Research?
• Research is the systematic process of
investigation and study used to advance
knowledge
• Two Main types of research
– Quantitative- formal, objective and systematic
process using numerical data
– Qualitative- subjective data involving words over
numbers. Focus on feelings, opinions, and emotions
concerned with explaining the why rather than what
or how many
 Types of Research
1. Naturalistic Observation- Observing
participants in their natural setting.
Participants in many cases are not aware they
are being studied.

2. Comparative- researchers compare two or

more things something about one or all of
them.
 Types of Research Cont.
3. Cross-Sectional- Developmental study where
researchers simultaneously study a number of
subjects from different age groups and then
compare the results

4. Longitudinal- Developmental study where

researchers study the same group of individuals
for many years
Cross Sectional vs. Longitudinal
 Critical Thinking
• What do you believe are the positives and
negatives of using the three types of research
methods below:
Natural
Observation
Cross-Sectional
Longitudinal
 Correlational Studies
• Research study designed to determine the degree
to which two variables are related to one another

• Positive Correlation- As the value of one variable

increases (or decreases) so does the value of the
other variable
• Negative Correlation- As the value of one variable
increases, the value of the other variable
decreases
 Correlation is not Causation
• Important NOT to imply a cause and effect
relationship between the variables
• Correlational study does not determine why
the two variables are related--just that they
are related.
• Correlational studies are helpful in making
predictions
 Experimental Research
• Experimental research is the only way to prove
a cause and effect relationship between two
variables
• Hypothesis-A testable prediction of the
outcome of the experiment or research
• Operational Definitions- A specification of the
exact procedures used to make a variable
specific and measurable for research purposes
 Variables in Research
• Independent Variable- The experimental
variable which causes something to happen.
The variable manipulated by the experimenter

• Dependent Variable- The experimental

variable which is affected by the independent
variable. The variable being measured
 Experimental Group Vs. Control Group
• Experimental Group- The subjects in an
experiment who are exposed to the treatment
(independent variable)

• Control Group- Are not exposed to the

independent variable. Results are compared
to those of the experimental group
 Confounding Variables
• Variables, other than the independent
variable, which could inadvertently influence
the dependent variable
• These variables should be controlled for in
order to draw a true, cause-effect relationship
in the experiment.
• Many confounding variables can be eliminated
through random assignment.
 Confounding Variables:
Environmental Differences
• Any differences in the experiment’s
conditions--between the experimental and
control groups
• Differences include temperature, lighting,
noise levels, distractions, etc.
• Ideally, there should be a minimum of
environmental differences between the two
groups.
 Confounding Variables:
Expectation Effects
• Any changes in an experiment’s results due to
the subject anticipating certain outcomes to
the experiment
 Random Assignment
• Assigning participants to the control and
experimental groups by chance
• Each participant should have an equal chance
of being assigned into either group.
 Critical Thinking
1. What is bias?

2. How do you think bias can play a role with

research?
 Bias and Research
• Situation in which a factor unfairly increases
the likelihood of a researcher reaching a
particular conclusion
• Bias should be minimized as much as possible
in research
• 2 Types of Bias
• Researcher Bias
• Participant Bias
 Researcher Bias
• The tendency to notice evidence which
supports one particular point of view or
hypothesis
• Objectivity tends to reduce bias.
 Participant Bias
• Tendency of research subjects to respond in
certain ways because they know they are
being observed
• The subjects might try to behave in ways they
believe the researcher wants them to behave
• Can be reduced by naturalistic observation
Controlling for Bias
1. Random Assignment

2. Blind Procedure

3. Double-Blind Procedure

4. Placebos
 Random Assignment
• Assigning participants to the control and
experimental groups by chance

• Each participant should have an equal chance

of being assigned into either group.
 Blind Procedure
• An experimental procedure where the
research participants are ignorant (blind) to
the expected outcome of the experiment

• Sometimes called single blind procedure

 Double-Blind Procedure
• An experimental procedure where both the
research participants and those collecting the
data are ignorant (blind) to the expected
outcome of the experiment
 Placebos
• A non-active substance or condition
administered instead of a drug or active agent
Given to the control group
Key Issues in Research
1. Validity

2. Accuracy

3. Reliability

4. Specificity
 Validity
– Fitness tests must measure the component of
fitness that they are supposed to. For example, is
your sit and reach test measuring solely the
flexibility of the hamstrings or are there other
factors involved?
– 2 Types
• Internal Validity- whether results can be attributed to
different treatments within the study
• External Validity- whether the results can be applied to
the real world
 Accuracy
• Accuracy relates to how close measurement is
to the ‘gold standard’, or what you are
intending to measure
 Reliability
• A reliable test produces the same results if repeated.
For example, an assessor trained in skin-fold
measurements will produce the same result, when
the same area is re-tested shortly after. Results can be
reliable without being correct.
• 2 Types
– Inter-Researcher Reliability- whether different researchers
in the same situation would get similar results.
– Test-Retest Reliability- doing the same test on different
occasions with same or similar results
 Specificity
• Fitness tests must assess an individuals fitness
for the activity or sport in question. For
example, there is little point in using a running
endurance test to assess an athletes
improvement in cycling endurance.