Kines 330 Exam 2 Review

What are some questions you should consider when approaching the problem?

- are the methods logical for your question? - does the population help you answer your question? - what stats will be used? - consider time requirements and location - do you need a baseline?

How can you limit internal validity?

Randomization; ensure that the groups do not differ at the beginning of the study

T/F: statistical analysis should be described, but not to the extent of theory

True

What is recall bias?

differences in recall accuracy between groups

Of the surveys frequently used for measuring physical activity in epidemiological research, the shortest (one to four items) is the: a) global questionnaire b) short-recall questionnaire c) quantitative history questionnaire d) wellness-ratings questionnaire

a) global questionnaire

A research hypothesis: a) is directly testable b) is nearly always the same as the null hypothesis c) depends of the statistical hypothesis d) predicts the technique used to analyze the data

a) is directly testable

It can be advantageous to carry out a pilot study prior to the actual research study because: a) it permits a thorough check of the planned data collection and analysis procedure b) a pilot study involves more control over the procedures than is generally attained in the actual research project c) if the pilot study results are positive, further work on the research project will be unnecessary d) the researcher can use the results of the pilot study in the actual study, thus reducing the number of participants needed

a) it permits a thorough check of the planned data collection and analysis procedure

A researcher tests the knowledge of 10,000 college aged students about nutrition, and the scores are transformed into percentiles by grade level. This type of research is a ________ survey study. a) normative b) developmental c) correlational d) longitudinal e) multiple-case

a) normative

Which of the following are most difficult to analyze in a questionnaire study? a) open-ended items b) yes/no items c) Likert-type items d) item ranking

a) open-ended items

The qualitative researcher typically: a) studies a small number of participants b) studies individuals in a laboratory setting c) uses multivariate analysis of data d) employs deductive reasoning in hypothesis development

a) studies a small number of participants

A limitation of some large epidemiological cohort studies is: a) the inability to experimentally establish cause and effect b) the small numbers of people as participants c) insufficient information on diseases d) insufficient time to collect data

a) the inability to experimentally establish cause and effect

What are threats to external validity?

- reactive or interactive effects of testing (pretest may make participants sensitive to treatment) - interaction of selection biases and treatment (treatment may only work on participants selected on specific characteristic testing) - reactive effects of experimental arrangements (setting constraints may influence generalizability) - multiple-treatment interference (one treatment may influence the next treatment)

Why might additional ethical considerations need to be given to qualitative research?

- topics addressed in research - time spent with the participants

What is makes a good hypothesis?

-tells the anticipated outcome of a study -testable - study will support or refute statement

What is a global survey?

1-4 questions; generally classify vigorous activity only

What are some important details to include related to informed consent?

1. explanation of procedures 2. description of discomforts or risks 3. benefits 4. data usage and confidentiality 5. offer to answer any inquiries 6. free to withdraw at any time

What is a quantitative survey?

15-60 items; complex, often need interviewer; FIIT analysis in various categories

What is a short recall survey?

5-15 items; cover recent PA patterns

What is physical activity often characterized by?

FITT: frequency, intensity, time, and type

T/F: A study limitation is an observable phenomenon that enables the researcher to test if the predicted outcomes can be supported.

False

T/F: the correlation between cause and effect can be explained by another variable

False

T/F: the methods should be designed so that the independent variable changes when independent variable is manipulated

False; should be designed so that the dependent variable changes when independent variable is manipulated

T/F: cause and effect do not need to be correlated with each other

False; they do need to be correlated

What are some threats to internal validity?

History, maturation, testing, instrumentation, statistical regression, selection biases, experimental mortality (attrition), selection-maturation interaction, expectancy

What is the procedure?

a description of how all of the data were obtained and if it was an experimental design, the process of treatments

What is a confounding factor?

a factor that obscures the observable relationship between an outcome and exposure

What is a placebo?

a false treatment provided to the control group

What is a cohort?

a group of individuals followed over a period of time; generally followed due to shared exposure of interest

What is an experimental design?

a study design in which groups are randomly formed and sources of invalidity are controlled for (must think about threats to internal and external validity)

What is a survey?

a technique of descriptive research used to determine the present practices or opinions of a population

Individuals performing well merely because they are being observed (and not necessarily because of any effect of treatment) are considered to be under the influence of the: a) Hawthorne effect b) readiness effect c) novelty effect d) performance effect

a) Hawthorne effect

Which of the following statements would appear in the procedures part of the methods section of a research paper? a) Participants in the experimental group exercised three days per week for 30 minutes per day for 10 weeks b) The test-retest reliability of the test instrument was reported to be .88 by Smith (1993) c) Pearson product moment correlation was used to analyze the relationship between scores on the distance run and scores on the test of maximal oxygen consumption d) Participants scored above the national mean on the dependent variable

a) Participants in the experimental group exercised three days per week for 30 minutes per day for 10 weeks

Defining a specific volleyball skill as a score on a volleyball skill test is an example of: a) an operational definition b) an experimental definition c) a constituted definition d) a dictionary definition

a) an operational definition

A qualitative research technique involves interviews of small numbers of participants in a group setting. These groups are called: a) focus groups b) criterion groups c) participant observation groups d) grounded groups

a) focus groups

What variable is used to determine if a variable changes the cause-and-effect relationship?

categorical variable

What is instrumentation in terms of threats to internal validity?

change in calibration of measurements (accurate measurements)

In describing participants in the methods section of a research report, which of the following should be included? a) number of participants b) regression analysis c) pertinent descriptive characteristics of participants d) a and c e) a, b, and c

d) a and c

A type of study that matches individuals with and without disease on factors such as age is an example of a: a) experimental-control study b) repeated-measures study c) split-plot study d) case-control study

d) case-control study

The one characteristic of true experimental design compared to other study designs is that they have: a) descriptive statistics b) a pretest and posttest c) parametric statistics d) random assignment to groups

d) random assignment to groups

Determinants of disease are often called: a) symptoms b) syndromes c) epidemic stressors d) risk factors

d) risk factors

What is maturation in regards to internal validity?

events due to passage of time (children getting older)

What is history in regards to internal validity?

events that are not part of the treatment (participation in other/similar activities)

What is a cross-sectional study?

taking a population and giving them a survey one time (specific point in time)

What is relative risk (risk ratio)?

the ratio of risk of a disease in an exposed group compared to an unexposed group

What is a null hypothesis?

the statistical test that there is no difference or relationship among the outcome variables

What is epidemiology?

the study of the distribution and determinants of health related states or events in specified populations

What is physical activity epidemiology?

the study of the frequency and patterns of physical activity in a specified population, and the relationship between physical activity and health and disease

What is bias?

the systematic deviation of a calculated (estimated) value from the true value; affects the internal validity

What is the strength of ranking types of question?

they are good at understanding importance or reason for a behavior

T/F: the cause must precede the effect in time

true

T/F: the control variable can influence the dependent variable

true

What is a double-blind setup?

when both the researchers and the participants do not know who receives the experimental or control treatment

What are the pros of paper and pencil questionnaire formats?

- better response rate - generally, study team is present

What are the strengths of a questionnaire?

- can usually have a large population - relatively cheap research - relatively quick research - specific to the participant experiences - relatively easy to validate and test reliability

What are some instruments used in research?

- device - test - questionnaire

What are the cons of electronic surveys?

- lower response rate - can get in the hands of the wrong population - if financial compensation, scammers become an issue

What are the cons for paper and pencil questionnaire formats?

- not totally environmentally conscientious - ability to meet with people - hand-writing

What is the control variable?

variable held constant or limited to some extent when thinking of the research question

What things must you consider when using an instrument in research?

- validity - reliability - access and time

What is a risk factor?

an exposure that has been found to be a determinant of a disease outcome or health behavior

What is confirmation bias?

an individual looks for a uses information to support their own ideas and beliefs- and disregards those that do not support their ideas/beliefs

Additional factors that can affect the relationship between physical activity and blood cholesterol, such as smoking, body fat, and so on, are called: a) control factors b) confounding factors c) cohort factors d) construct factors

b) confounding factors

In comparison to surveys, qualitative interviews tend to be: a) more structured b) less structured c) shorter d) virtually the same

b) less structured

The term that denotes using ideas, writings, or drawings of others as your own is called: a) internal validity b) external validity c) content validity d) plagiarism

d) plagiarism

What is an extraneous variable?

variable that may not have been considered when thinking of the research question (not the independent variable but may have had an affect on the dependent variable)

What are some study design considerations of qualitative research?

- credibility (accurate description of the subjects and setting) - transferability (would the results be useful to those in other settings?) - dependability (how well researcher dealt with change) - confirmability (could another individual confirm the results)

What are the pros for electronic surveys?

- easy to send to a lot of people - nice for the environment - usually quicker to take

What threats to internal validity does randomization help?

- history up to the point - maturation due to the same passage of time - regression - selection bias - selection-maturation

What are the methods from qualitative research?

- interviews (individual/group, formal/informal) - focus groups - observational data

What are the limitations of questionnaires?

- it is specific to the participant experiences - selection bias - recall bias - pressure to "answer correctly" - honesty in filling out a survey

Why is detailing the methods section so important?

- so the study can be repeated - so you answer your question

To determine the effects of fatigue from a particular type of exercise, keeping the temperature and humidity constant would be considered what types of variables because they may influence the outcome of the study. a) control variables b) null variables c) categorical variables d) operational variables

a) control variables

In a research study in which the treatment involved quite intense physical training, 40% of the participatns in the treatment group dropped out as compared with 5% of the control group. This threat to internal validity is called: a) experimental mortality (attrition) b) statistical regression c) history d) selection bias

a) experimental mortality (attrition)

The type of sport a person participates in would be a: a) control variable b) categorical variable c) extraneous variable d) experimental variable

b) categorical variable

What is a blind setup?

when participants do not know if they are receiving the experimental or control treatment

How is physical activity measured?

-questionnaires/ surveys - diaries - wearable technology

What is physical activity?

Bodily movement produced by skeletal muscle contraction that requires energy expenditure

What does it mean if RR=1?

Risk in exposed is equal to risk in non-exposed (no association)

What does it mean if RR>1?

Risk in exposed is greater than risk in the non-exposed (positive association; possibly causal)

Scaled responses to questionnaire items such are strongly agree, agree, no opinion, and so on are referred to as _________ scale items a) multiple b) likert c) semantic d) guessing

b) likert

What variable is the cause?

independent

What does it mean if RR<1?

Risk in exposed is less than risk in non-exposed (negative association; possibly protective)

T/F: The null hypothesis states that there is no difference among treatments or relationship among variables.

True

When is the odds ratio a good estimate of relative risk?

When: 1. Cases in sample are representative of all cases the population we draw cases from 2. Controls in sample are representative of the population we draw cases from 3. The disease is rare/infrequent

In evaluating the methods section of a research paper, which is a very important question to keep in mind? a) Did the author clearly state the problem? b) Did the author provide enough information that the study could be repeated? c) Were the statistical data clearly summarized in tables or figures? d) Were each of the subjects clearly identified?

b) Did the author provide enough information that the study could be repeated?

A researcher thinks that there will be an inverse relationship between functional movement scores and number of injuries. This is an example of: a) a limitation b) a research hypothesis c) a null hypothesis d) a basic assumption

b) a research hypothesis

The internal validity of an experimental design is concerned with what question? a) to what extent can the findings be generalized? b) did the independent variable really produce change in the dependent variable? c) how representative is the setting selected for the experiment? d) will findings provide information about situations in which variations of the independent variable are present?

b) did the independent variable really produce change in the dependent variable?

An important principle regarding human subjects research is the right of informed consent which states that the researcher is obligated to: a) receive approval from a committee that evaluates ethical considerations of the proposed study b) explain the major features of the study to the participants before the beginning of the study so that they have the opportunity to decline to take part c) weigh the potential worth of the study against any potential harm to the participants before doing the study d) brief the participants on the results of the study before the article is submitted for publication

b) explain the major features of the study to the participants before the beginning of the study so that they have the opportunity to decline to take part

"To what populations, settings, treatment variables, and measurement variables can this effect be generalized?" might most appropriately be asked in relation to: a) criterion validity b) external validity c) internal validity d) construct validity

b) external validity

An important advantage of the qualitative method is that: a) it is highly efficient because only one observer is needed over a brief time span b) it is more likely than other methods to lead to new insights about the problem c) field notes are easier to interpret than are quantitative data d) interview data are more objective and freer from bias than are other forms of measurement

b) it is more likely than other methods to lead to new insights about the problem

The first step in conducting a questionnaire survey is to: a) select the sample b) list specific objectives to be achieved c) construct the questionnaire items d) write the cover letter

b) list specific objectives to be achieved

A double-blind experiment is one in which: a) both experimental and control groups are exposed to identical pretesting and post testing conditions b) neither the researcher nor the participants know which participants receive the experimental treatment c) neither the experimental nor control groups know which participants receive the experimental treatment, but the experimenter knows d) both experimental and control groups receive the same tests

b) neither the researcher nor the participants know which participants receive the experimental treatment

Prevalence of disease differs from incidence of disease in that prevalence refers to the number of: a) new cases of a disease, whereas incidence relates to the number who presently have the disease b) people who presently have a disease, whereas incidence relates to new cases c) new cases of a disease, whereas incidence relates to the number who die in a certain period of time d) people who die from a disease in a certain period of time, whereas incidence relates to new cases

b) people who presently have a disease, whereas incidence relates to new cases

The interpretation of data in qualitative research always involves some form of: a) statistical comparisons b) sorting and categorizing c) deductive reasoning d) external criticism

b) sorting and categorizing

To help ensure an acceptable return rate in a questionnaire study, the researcher could: a) make liberal use of open-ended questions b) use follow-up letters or e-mails c) send a completely new and novel study d) b and c only e) a, b, and c

b) use follow-up letters or e-mails

What is survivorship bias?

bias that comes from only enrolling people who have survived a certain exposure/ to a certain point

What is a delimitation?

boundaries or choices the researcher has made in regard to a particular research problem

Which of the following terms is used in connection with intensity of exercise and refers to the ratio of metabolic rate during exercise to the rate while resting? a) RPE b) BMI c) MET d) EKG

c) MET

For confidentiality, the researcher should: a) make certain no unauthorized individuals have access to the research data b) remove names from data-collection instruments and replace them with a code c) both of these statements are important d) neither of these statements are important

c) both of these statements are important

The part of the methods section of the research paper that describes the activities of each treatment group is called the: a) participants b) instruments c) procedures d) design and analysis

c) procedures

A study design uses, for example, two groups of people representing a disease-free population who are then classified as exercisers and non-exercisers. After a period of time, the mortality rates of each group are compared. This design is called a(n): a) retrospective study b) experimental study c) prospective cohort study d) participant observation study

c) prospective cohort study

What is testing in terms of threats to internal validity?

effects of more than one test administration (practice effect)

What is an operational definition?

definition of a variable based on how it will be used in a particular study; can also include how a dependent variable will be measured or an independent variable will be manipulated

What variable is the effect?

dependent

What is selection bias?

differences in the characteristics of subjects entering (or not entering) a study

What is experimental mortality in regards to internal validity?

differential loss of participants (lose interest)

What is exposure?

factors (variables) in epidemiology that are tested for their relationship to the outcome of interest

What is a categorical response used for?

generally used as control variables or the independent variable in an analysis

What is an odds ratio?

given an exposure, the odds an outcome will occur compared to absence of the exposure

What is the categorical variable?

group assignment based on similar traits (ex: sex, age, sport, etc.)

What is paramount for testing the hypothesis?

having a proper design

Why is expectancy a threat to internal validity?

influence of the experimenters on participants (I want you to perform a specific way)

Define instruments

information about the tools used to collect data in the study

What is sport specialization?

intentional and focused participation in a single sport for a majority of the year that restricts opportunities for engagement in other sports and activities

Why is selection biases a threat to internal validity?

nonrandom participant selection

What is social desirability bias?

participants over/under report certain behaviors due to stigma/hurt/invasion of privacy

Why is selection-maturation interaction a threat to internal validity?

passage of time influencing groups differently (same population, different age)

Define participants.

people who are subjects in the study

What is hot stuff bias?

popularity of a topic may cause scientists/journals to 'bandwagon' on a topic and lose scientific rigor

What is informed consent?

process of informing the participant of the details of the study

What is a continuous variable?

quantitative value along a continuum

Why is statistical regression a threat to internal validity?

selection based on extreme scores

What is a limitation?

shortcoming of the study design or a possible influence that could not be controlled for