MCCCD Official Course Competencies:

EXS230  2009 Spring - 9999

Introduction to Research Methods in Health and Exercise Science

1.         Identify and differentiate between basic and applied research. (I)

2.         Define various methods of research and list their primary applications. (I)

3.         Develop a research question and an operationally defined hypothesis. (I)

4.         Define and differentiate between independent and dependent variables. (II)

5.         Describe and explain the steps in basic research methodology. (III)

6.         Compare and contrast primary and secondary information sources. (IV)

7.         Explain the process for accessing different information sources. (IV)

8.         Identify foundational techniques of statistical analysis. (V)

9.         Critically analyze scientific reports and identify the purposes of each section. (VI)

MCCCD Official Course Outline:

EXS230  2009 Spring - 9999

Introduction to Research Methods in Health and Exercise Science

I.          The Nature of Research

            A.        Basic research

            B.         Applied research

            C.        Methods of research

            D.        Research in Health & Exercise Science (ES)

II.         Research Methodology

A.        Independent variables

B.         Dependent variables

C.        Control variables

D.        Identifying variables in basic & applied Health/ES

            E.         Research model for proposed study

III.       Operational Definitions and Concepts

A.        Scientific method

B.         Experimental background

C.        Hypothesis

D.        Methodology

E.         Data collection

F.         Results

G.        Interpretation / Application

IV.       Research and Information Acquisition

            A.        Secondary information sources

B.         Gaining access to secondary sources

            C.        Primary information sources

            D.        Gaining access to primary sources

            E.         Comparative evaluation of primary and secondary sources

V.        Research and Information Evaluation

            A.        Basic Statistics and Statistical Analysis

                        1.         Measures of Central Tendency

                        2.         Standard Deviation

                        3.         Standard Error

                        4.         Tests for Differences

B.         Correlation versus Cause - Effect

C.        Experimental Design

1.         Validity

2          Reliability

            D.        Conclusions and Data Interpretation

VI.       Organizing, Synthesizing, and Reporting Research

A.        Development of a research question

            B.         Background / Related Research

            C.        Conceptual organization of research

            D.        Synthesis and reporting of representative findings

            E.         Conclusions

            F.         Proposals for allied, future research