Senior Seminar exam 3

Physical Activity Epidemiology

Study of the distribution and determinants of physical activity and its relationship to health outcomes.

Prevalence

Number of people with a condition at a specific point in time.

Incidence

Number of new cases of a condition over a specific period of time.

Mortality Rate

Rate of deaths within a defined population.

Determinants

Factors such as age, sex, socioeconomic status, occupation, and geography that influence physical activity or disease.

Framingham Heart Study

Long-term study identifying risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

London Busmen Study

Compared drivers vs. conductors to show physical activity lowers risk of heart disease.

Harvard Alumni Health Study

Linked physical activity to reduced all-cause mortality and improved health outcomes.

Cross-sectional study

Examines participants at one point in time to compare differences between groups.

Cohort study

Follows healthy participants over time to examine relationships between exposure and outcome.

Case-control study

Compares individuals with a disease to those without to identify possible risk factors.

Clinical trial

Experimental study testing effects of an intervention on health or performance.

Observational research

Studies naturally occurring differences without manipulating variables.

Experimental Research

Seeks to establish cause-and-effect relationships through manipulation and control of variables.

Three criteria for causation

    1    Cause precedes effect

    2    Cause and effect are correlated

    3    Relationship not explained by another variable

Internal validity

Confidence that the independent variable caused changes in the dependent variable.

External validity

Extent to which study results can be generalized to other populations or settings.

Threats to internal validity

History, maturation, testing, instrumentation, regression, selection bias, mortality, expectancy.

Threats to external validity

Testing effects, selection-treatment interaction, experimental setting, multiple-treatment interference.

Ways to control validity threats

Randomization, counterbalancing, blinding, standardized procedures, consistent instrumentation.

Quasi-experimental design

Used when random assignment is not possible; includes single-subject and time-series designs.

Qualitative Research

Explores experiences, behaviors, or meanings through non-numerical data (interviews, observations, field notes).

Main qualitative approaches

Ethnography, phenomenology, grounded theory, case study.

Credibility

Accuracy of description and interpretation of participants and setting.

Transferability

Extent to which findings can apply to other contexts or groups.

Dependability

Consistency of results over time or under similar conditions.

Confirmability

Objectivity of results—can another researcher confirm findings?

Triangulation

Using multiple data sources or methods to strengthen conclusions.

Member checking

Asking participants to review and confirm findings or interpretations.

Peer debriefing

Having colleagues question the researcher’s conclusions to ensure validity.

Thick description

Detailed account of setting and participants to enhance understanding and transferability.

Mixed-Methods Research

Combines quantitative and qualitative approaches in a single study to strengthen conclusions.

Sequential design

Collects data in phases (e.g., quantitative first, then qualitative).

Concurrent design

Collects quantitative and qualitative data at the same time.

Parallel design

Quantitative and qualitative data collected separately but interpreted together.

Purpose of mixed methods

To address questions that one method alone cannot fully answer.

Example of mixed methods

Quantitative: fitness test results; Qualitative: participant interviews about the training program.

Completing the Research Process

Final stage involving writing, analyzing, and presenting research findings.

Introduction section

Provides background, identifies problem, states hypothesis, and explains significance.

Methods section

Details participants, instruments, procedures, and data analysis so study can be replicated.

Results section

Presents findings objectively using tables, figures, and statistics.

Discussion section

Interprets results, connects back to hypotheses, literature, and theory, and provides applications.

Order of discussion

Most important findings first, least important last.

Ways of Reporting Research

Methods of communicating results to audiences (journals, conferences, posters).

Thesis format

Traditional, detailed 5+ chapter report (Intro, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion).

Journal format

Concise report ready for publication (Intro, Methods, Results, Discussion).

Poster presentation

Visual summary of key findings, includes Introduction, Problem, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusions.

Abstract

Brief summary including purpose, methods, results, and conclusions.

Oral presentation (15 minutes)

Intro (3 min), Problem (1 min), Methods (3 min), Results (3 min), Discussion (2 min), Questions (3 min).

Publication process

Select appropriate journal, follow its guidelines, and understand the peer-review and revision process.

Ecological validity

Extent to which the research setting reflects real-world conditions.

IRB relevance (review)

Ensures protection, informed consent, and ethical research practices (often cumulative on final exam).

FINER criteria (review)

Feasible, Interesting, Novel, Ethical, Relevant — used for assessing quality of research questions.