1. Experimental Design & Critical Interpretation of Research
Chapter 15
Experimental Design & Critical Interpretation of Research
2009 Cengage-Wadsworth

2. The Scientific Method Steps in the scientific method
Research purpose or problem
Hypothesis
Experimentation
Interpretation or analysis
Conclusion
Theory formulation
2009 Cengage-Wadsworth

3. The Scientific Method Historical applications Antoine Lavoisier
First to implement this method
Hypothesized that respiration in animals was a form of combustion
Experimented to test the hypothesis
Theorized that consumption of O2 is related to amount of C burned or heat produced in the animal
2009 Cengage-Wadsworth

4. Research Methodologies
Broad classifications
Qualitative
Uses verbal data
Quantitative
Uses data expressed in numbers
2009 Cengage-Wadsworth

5. Research Methodologies
Historical method (qualitative)
Descriptive survey method (qualitative)
Case studies
Analytical survey method (quantitative)
Statistical methods
Observational research
Epidemiological or cohort studies
2009 Cengage-Wadsworth

6. Research Methodologies
Experimental method (quantitative)
Control group-experimental group
Based on cause & effect
Clinical trial
2009 Cengage-Wadsworth

7. Terms that Describe Research Quality
Validity
Whether instrument measures what it’s supposed to measure
Accuracy
How close instrument is to true value
Reliability
Whether it’s accurate enough
Precision
Whether it is consistent in its results
2009 Cengage-Wadsworth

8. Initiation of Research
Select the research topic or problem to be solved
Clearly state the question to be researched
Prepare a research plan/proposal
Plan for the collection & preparation of data
2009 Cengage-Wadsworth

9. Problems & Pitfalls in Research
Failure to plan properly
Soluble problems
Insoluble problems
Application of statistics in the analysis of data
Insufficient power of the statistical test
2009 Cengage-Wadsworth

10. Evaluation of Research & Scientific Literature
Type of publication
Peer-reviewed journals
Meta-analysis
Review articles
Nutrition in the media
2009 Cengage-Wadsworth

11. Nutrition Research on the Internet
What is the source of the Web site?
Who are the contributors?
Is the Web site efficiently managed?
What links to other Web sites & databases are provided?
2009 Cengage-Wadsworth