Exercise Science Notes

Observe an occurrence
Make a hypothesis to explain the observation.
Make a prediction based on the hypothesis.
Design a study to test the predictions.
Compare the data collected to the prediction and conclude if the hypothesis was correct or incorrect.
- If the hypothesis was incorrect, modify it to fit the results.
Repeat steps 3-5 until there are no other explanations for the observation.

A graph is a picture of the relationship between two or more variables.
Variables are classified as independent or dependent.
- Independent Variable: Variable that you think has an effect on other variables (e.g., age, gender, fitness level).
- Dependent Variable: Outcome(s) that you think are affected by the independent variable (e.g., likelihood of developing heart disease, heart rate during exercise).
Extraneous Variables: Assumed to have no impact on the measurements or are accounted for when groups are randomized (e.g. hair/eye color or the number of siblings one has).
When graphing, the independent variable is on the X axis (horizontal), and the dependent variable is on the Y axis (vertical).
Positive Correlation: As the independent variable increases, so does the dependent variable.
Negative Correlation: As one variable increases, the other decreases (also referred to as an inverse correlation).
Correlation does not equal causality.
- Just because there is a correlation does not mean that one factor causes the other.
- Correlation is often a good starting point for future research.

Involves manipulating one or more independent variables to determine the effect on the dependent variable.
Used to help determine causality.
Control Group: A group that does not receive the treatment.
- Important for ensuring the effect is not due to time or natural changes.
Placebo: A treatment that looks/feels similar to experimental treatment but has no effect.
Blinding: Not revealing to subjects which treatment they have received.
- Single Blind: Subjects don't know which treatment they receive.
- Double Blind: Neither subjects nor researchers know which treatment subjects receive. This is generally considered a very strong design.

People are selected from a population, and both independent and dependent variables are measured at one time.
Allows correlation to be made between the variables.
Subjects are still chosen from a population, but are divided into two or more groups.
- Comparisons are made between the means of the groups

Different levels of the dependent variable are used, and the independent variable is measured retrospectively.
Does not allow the establishment of cause, only correlations.
Subject to errors and biases.

It is critically important to get information from original sources as often as possible
Scientific articles from journals are usually the best sources for accurate, up-to-date information because of peer review.
Peer Review: When a scientific article is submitted to a journal editor for publication, it is usually sent to 2-3 experts in the field for review.
- These experts read the article, evaluate it for scientific merit, accuracy, and bias, and make suggestions for revisions.

Research Papers: Reports of one or more closely related experiments.
- Sections: Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion.
Review Articles: Summarize the current knowledge in a particular topic.
Scientific papers are referred to as primary sources and review articles as secondary sources