Study Design 6.2

6.2.1 Outline the importance of specificity, accuracy, reliability and validity with regard to fitness testing.

Specificity Are you measuring what you intend to measure? Are you testing what you intend to test? e.g. Volleyball player jumping One jump or multiple jumps? Multiple measures Relates to accuracy

Accuracy The degree of closeness of measurements of a quantity to that quantity’s actual (true) value. Repeatability of a measure. Questions to consider Is your data collection method accurate? Have you accounted for error? Are your stop watches the same? Has your equipment been calibrated? Have you used the same equipment? Have your helpers/assistants been trained properly? Is there a set protocol? Is there a back up method? Accuracy definition source: JCGM 200:2008 International vocabulary of metrology – Basic and general concepts and associated terms (VIM) as cited on Wikipedia.

Validity The degree to which a test, or instrument measures what it is supposed to measure. heart rate monitors Body fat calipers Scale Stopwatch Measuring strength gains (e.g. 1RM) Source 1: Research Methods in Physical Activity 4th Edition Thomas & Neslon (2001).

Reliability The extent to which the same reading is obtained each time a variable is measured. The degree to which a measure would produce the same result from one occasion to another. The consistency, or repeatability of a measure. A part of validity. A test cannot be valid if it is not reliable. A test can be reliable but not valid. e.g. broken scale Source 1: Research Methods in Physical Activity 4th Edition Thomas & Neslon (2001). Source 2: Clark-Carter 2000 as cited in Sports, Exercise and Health Science Course Companion by John Sproule.

6.2.2 Discuss the importance of study design in the context of the sport and exercise sciences. For the purposes of IB, only quantitative designs are accepted. Qualitative information may be mentioned in raw data presentation if it supports quantitative results. Experimental designs are the premise for IB.

6.2.2 Discuss the importance of study design in the context of the sport and exercise sciences. Go go the links below and define the following terms: control groups, randomization, placebos, blinding and double-blinding. http://skepdic.com/control.html http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/321/7259/ 504

Types of Design in Sports and Exercise Science Pre-experimental Control very few sources of invalidity No random assignment of participants to groups e.g. One-shot study, one-group pretest-posttest, static group comparison (These types of studies are NOT VALID) True experimental groups are randomly formed, helps establish validity Have clear dependent (what’s being measured) and independent (treatment, manipulation) variables Quasi-experimental – big increase in Kinesiology Little or no control over treatments No random assignment Easier to set up Causal relationships are difficult to identify Longitudinal studies – how things have changed over time e.g. Using PA as treatment for patients suffering from heart disease One-shot study – a group of participants receives a treatment followed by a test to evaluate treatment…very weak. Pre-test-Posttest – very weak, but better than one-shot study; can at least observe whether any change in performance occurred. Static group comparison – Two groups, 1 receives treatment, 1 does not.

6.2.2 Discuss the importance of study design in the context of the sport and exercise sciences. Written Report: Design a sample sports or exercise science experiment demonstrating the use of these experimental techniques. 500 words – typed, double spaced, 12 inch font, Times Roman or Arial only. Due Friday, October 19th

6.2.3 Outline the importance of the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q). Go to the websites below research PAR-Q test, and explain its importance. http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/sth- evs/english/parq.htm http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.pubmed/1330274 Class activity – Complete a PAR-Q with a classmate.

6.2.4 Evaluate field, laboratory, sub-maximal and maximal tests of human performance. Class discussion/Research Activity

IB SEHS Research Design Elements