RM lecture 1/2/3/4/5

what is research?

• Systematic investigation to generate new knowledge or validate existing knowledge

• Answers questions across different fields, not limited to health or movement sciences

• Follows planned, evidence-based methods

• Driven by curiosity, observation, and critical thinking

• Conducted ethically, respecting participants, data, and designed to consider and maximize societal impact

what is not research?

• Simple opinion or personal reflection

• Routine activities or tasks

• Casual observation without systematic study

• Anecdotes or one-time experiences

key characteristics of research

• Systematic: Follows a clear plan or method

• Objective: Minimizes personal bias

• Evidence-based: Relies on data, not opinions

• Replicable: Can be repeated by others to verify results

cyclic nature of research process

Research is a cyclical process where you observe, review existing literature, collect and analyze data, draw conclusions, and generate new questions, continuously building and refining knowledge.

independent variable IV

The factor the researcher intentionally changes or manipulates to see its effect. Think: “What do I change?” Example (health & movement): Exercise intensity, medication dose, type of feedback

dependent variable DV

The outcome the researcher measures or observes in response to that change. Think: “What do I measure?” Example (health & movement): Reaction time, muscle activation, blood pressure

basic research

Expands knowledge without immediate practical application

Example: Examining changes in brain activity after concussive impacts in NFL players

Applied research

Solves real-world problems

Example: Designing a new gait training program to reduce fall risks in people with Parkinson’s disease

Quantitive research

Uses numbers and statistics

Example: Measure VO2 max before and after a training program

qualitative research

Explores perceptions, behaviors, or experiences

Example: Interview stroke patients about daily rehab challenges

experimental research

Researchers manipulate a variable to test its effect

Example: Two groups follow different dietary plans; compare changes in gut health

observational research

Researchers watch and record without interfering

Example: Track training habits of athletes over a season

lab study

Research takes place in controlled settings where precise measurements can be made and conditions can be replicated.

Example: EMG testing of gait in people who had knee replacement surgery

field study

Research conducted in natural settings, observing real-world behavior without interference

Example: Track migration patterns of certain birds using GPS trackers

what is evidence based practice EBP and why it matters

the process of combining the best available research evidence with your clinical knowledge and skill to make patient- or population-centered decisions within the context of a given health care situation

it matters bc practices can change overtime and we want to give the best care to a patient

mixed methods research

A single research study can - and often should - incorporate multiple, different types of research methodologies (e.g., experimental, qualitative, and applied) to provide a comprehensive understanding of a complex problem.

what staying up does to your brain, why cramming the night before is not a good idea

When it gets dark, the eyes signal the brain to start producing melatonin and GABA (which slows brain activity and has a calming effect); the more adenosine latches onto the brain, the more tired and inattentive u become.

Caffeine blocks adenosine receptors but can make u jittery. Awake for 19 hrs= behavior of those who have been drinking; sleep deprivation can give temporary euphoria.

One sleepless night, the brain can bounce back quickly; long periods w/o sleep is linked to diabetes/stroke/developing mental health issues.

Three tips to study effectively

introduced to a new concept, temporary encoding, reactivated memory when mentioned later

short term(hippocampus) long term(neocortex)

active recall increases memory

1. flashcards and quizzes/testing urself to gauge what you actually know, making mistakes increases memory

2. mix flashcards of multiple subjects to increase retention vs studying one single skill

3. space review over multiple days increase retention

misconduct

behavior that compromises the integrity of scientific work

children

special population needing additional protections in research

fabrication

making up data or results in research

beneficence

ethical principle requiring researchers to maximize benefits and minimize harm

retraction

published research that is later withdrawn due to errors or ethical violations

consent

participant’s fromal agreement to take part in research

helsinki

city lending its name to the international research ethics declaration

financial

undisclosed interest that could bias research, often monetary

IACUC

Committee that oversees the ethical use of animals in research

Conflict

often paired with “of interest” in research ethics discussion

why ethics in research matters

ethics serves as the moral compass that ensures those decisions are made responsibly

ethics

Shared norms of conduct that guide decisions about what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior.

Human Subjects

• are only involved when the researcher interacts with living individuals or uses identifiable private information.

living individual about whom a researcher obtains data through intervention, interaction, or identifiable private information.

Institutional review board(IRB)

who reviews human studies, they protect participants rights, safety, wel being

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

used to ethically regulate ANIMAL research

NOT using human subjects

• Analyzing publicly available, de-identified datasets

• Studying animal models (covered by IACUC, not IRB)

• Using computer simulations or mathematical models

• Reviewing existing literature or archival records with no identifiers

• Bench science (cells, tissues without identifiers, biomechanics models)

intervention

Any physical procedures or manipulations performed on the person (e.g., exercise tests, clinical procedures).

Interaction

Communication or interpersonal contact for research purposes (e.g., surveys, interviews, focus groups).

Identifiable private information

Data from which the person’s identity can be readily ascertained (e.g., names, medical records, linked biospecimens)

why ethics matters

• Ethical guidelines protect individuals who participate in research.

• Researchers often hold more knowledge or authority than participants, which creates potential for harm without proper safeguards.

• Ethics ensure public trust, promote research integrity, and prevent abuses like those seen in past studies.

• Applying ethical principles helps researchers balance scientific advancement with participant welfare.

Tuskegee Syphilis study

• 1932–1972, Alabama (notice duration!)

• 600 African American men were recruited, but were not fully informed about the purpose of the study or their diagnosis (399 had late-latent syphilis!).

• None of the men were told their actual diagnosis; they were falsely told they were being treated for "bad blood". When penicillin became the standard cure in the 1940s, researchers withheld treatment from the infected men to keep observing the disease

Nazi medical experiments

During World War II, Nazi camp prisoners were subjected to extreme experiments without consent, often resulting in death or permanent injury. These atrocities led to the Nuremberg Code, which established voluntary participation and avoidance of unnecessary suffering as ethical requirements

Eugenics

promoted controlling reproduction to create a “better” population, targeting marginalized groups

the eugenics crusade

Ethical lesson: It shows the dangers of discrimination and using science to justify violating human dignity and rights

Milgram obedience study

Stanley Milgram studied obedience to authority in the early 1960s by asking participants to administer what they believed were electric shocks to another person when instructed.

• The “learner” was actually an actor, and no real shocks were given. Participants were told the shocks could be painful, and the experiment measured how far they would go under authority pressure.

Nuremberg code

1947, created after WWII in response to the nazi medical experiments on prisoners

Core Principles:

• Voluntary consent: Participants must freely volunteer and fully understand the research.

• Avoid unnecessary suffering: Experiments should not cause physical or mental harm.

• Risk vs. benefit: The potential benefits must outweigh risks.

• Qualified researchers: Experiments should be conducted only by scientifically competent individuals.

• Right to withdraw: Participants can end their participation at any time without penalty.

the belmont report

1979, established three core principles for ethical research with human subjects: respect for persons, beneficence, and justice.

respect for people

• Acknowledging autonomy and protecting those with diminished autonomy.

• Participants must be treated as capable of making informed decisions about participation. Informed consent is essential, ensuring they understand the study’s purpose, risks, benefits, and their right to withdraw at any time

Vulnerable Populations

ex. children

Ethical research requires additional protection for these populations to ensure fairness and safety; Researchers must consider whether participation could be exploitative or harmful.

informed consent

• is a process (not just a form) where researchers provide potential participants with the necessary information about a research study before they agree to participate in the study.

• Ensures that participants understand the study and choose to participate freely. They must know they can withdraw at any point without consequences

assent

when research involves children

• child’s affirmative agreement to participate in research. It is a process in which the research team explains the study in a way that is age-appropriate and understandable to the child.

Beneficence

• maximize benefits while minimizing harm

• risks thoughtfully assessed and reduced

• ensures research promotes good without causing unnecessary suffering

psychological distress

for example, a participant feeling anxious or upset when answering questions about trauma

embarrassment

such as being asked personal or sensitive questions in a survey

social stigma

for instance, someone being labeled or judged for participating in a study on mental health or substance use

privacy breaches

like personal data being accidentally shared or leaked

justice

Ensures fair selection of research participants.

• Groups should not be targeted because they are convenient, vulnerable, or powerless.

• Similarly, the benefits of research should be distributed equitably.

what does the IRB evaluate

IRBs review research design, consent and recruitment methods, risk assessment, and data protection, with special attention to vulnerable populations. Their goal is to protect participants and ensure ethical conduct throughout the study.

Exempt Review

Applies to certain minimal-risk studies (e.g., anonymous educational surveys). “Exempt” still requires IRB confirmation.

Expedited review

covers minimal-risk studies using procedures like noninvasive measures or existing data.

full board review

is required for studies involving more than minimal risk or vulnerable populations and is reviewed by the full IRB committee.

Privacy

how information is collected, while confidentiality concerns how it is stored and shared

Data security involves protecting research data from unauthorized access or breaches.

adverse events

Any unexpected harm to participants must be reported immediately to the IRB. Prompt reporting allows the IRB to reassess risk and implement changes if needed.

ex:

• Participant develops infection or internal injury after blood draw or invasive physiological measurement

• Participant becomes dizzy and faints

• Accidental disclosure of sensitive health or location data

Declaration of Helsinki

requires independent ethical review before initiating human subject research.

• It emphasizes informed consent, risk-benefit assessment, and the protection of vulnerable populations, and serves as a cornerstone for global research regulations.

Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)

practice of research with integrity/honesty/transparency/accountability

Anil Potti scandal

at duke, CLAIMED TO CREATE genomic algorithm capable of matching cancer patients with the perfect chemotherapy drugs

Severe errors, fabricated data, a medical student whistleblower was silenced

the invasive human clinical trials were shut down and 10 papers retracted

Bharat Aggarwal scandal

claiming curcumin could kill cancer cells; investigation for alleged data falsification, result was 30 papers redacted

He Jiankui

claimed in 2018 to have created genetically edited babies; forging ethical approvals and misleading doctors, resulted in 3 yrs of prison

theranos/holmes

blood test was very inaccurate, misleading investors, false data/results

high impact journals

≠ guaranteed high-quality or ethical research

Journal prestige should not be confused with research integrity

impact factor IF

measures the average number of citations received by articles published in a journal during a specific 2 yr period; higher number the better

IF = number of times articles were cited / number of citable articles.

predatory journals

which tend to lack rigorous peer review and exploit the open-access model, poses a threat to the integrity of scientific research.

peer review

ensures that the study is methodologically sound, accurately reported, and contributes meaningful knowledge to the scientific community.

falsification of data

when a researcher manipulates research materials, equipment, processes, or data to produce desired outcomes

fabrication of data

when a researcher makes up data or results that were never collected. This could involve creating fictional participants, measurements, or experimental outcomes.

Other questionable research practices

• Selective reporting of data

• “p-hacking”; trying multiple analyses to get significant results

• Hypothesizing after results are known

• Improper sharing and authorship practices

Data management and integrity

• Accurate and transparent data management is critical for reproducibility, reliability, and credibility of research.

• Poor data management can lead to errors, misinterpretation, and ethical breaches.

Authorship criteria:

Significant contributions to study design, data collection,

analysis, or manuscript writing

Avoid gift authorship:

Including someone who made minimal contributions.(includes people who did routine tasks)

Proper acknowledgment:

Credit other people in acknowledgments if not authors.

plagiarism

not only word-for-word copying - it also includes paraphrasing someone else’s ideas without credit.

Self-plagiarism:

when you reuse your own previously published work without proper citation or disclosure. Even though it’s your work, failing to acknowledge prior use misleads readers about novelty.

conflict of interest

when a researcher’s personal, financial, or professional interests could compromise, or appear to compromise, their objectivity in conducting, analyzing, or reporting research

Cultural competence

Designing and conducting studies that respect and respond to the cultural, social, and demographic diversity of participants.

• Ignoring cultural factors can produce biased results and reduce generalizability.

• Considering language barriers or cultural norms

3 Rs of animal research

Replacement: Use non-animal alternatives (like computer or cellular models) whenever possible.

Reduction: Limit the number of animals used to the absolute minimum needed for valid results.

Refinement: Modify procedures to minimize any pain, distress, or discomfort.

scientific literature

Collection of validated scholarly writings on a topic that contribute to the knowledge base in a field

Primary sources

Report new data/findings collected by the authors

secondary sources

Interpret, summarize, or evaluate primary research

Peer-reviewed journal articles

Findings validated through expert evaluation

Review articles

Summarizes evidence

Meta-analyses

Statistical pooling of studies

Case studies

In depth individual analysis

Position statements

Expert recommendations (e.g. American College of Sports Medicine)

Textbooks

For general info

Not all “information” is scientific evidence

• Blogs

• Internet influencers

• Marketing statements about supplements

• News headlines

• Social media posts

What is a literature search

Methodical search for the literature published on a topic.

• An effective search of the literature takes time, but the time it takes can be reduced when focused search strategies are utilized.

• Important to keep records of the searches made and the information found

Why start with literature?

➢ What is already known about a topic

➢ What is still unknown

➢ What methods have been used

➢ Where the gaps are

➢ Enables comparison with your own research findings

Broad vs. narrow vs. focused

Broad Area:

Rehabilitation / Motor control / Exercise interventions

Narrowed Topic:

“Exercise in Parkinson’s disease” → still too broad

Focused Topic:

“Effects of structured balance training programs on fall risk in older adults with Parkinson’s disease”

PICO

Patient population

Intervention or issue

comparison intervention

outcome of interest

Example of PICO

In adults recovering from a heart attack (P), does participation in a cardiac rehabilitation program (I), compared to usual care (C), improve exercise capacity and reduce hospital readmissions (O)?