Data Collection and Analysis

The analysis of the qualitative data (words, text or behaviors) typically follows the path of

aggregating it into categories of information and presenting the diversity of ideas gathered during data collection.

Quantitative includes

close-ended information such as that found to measure attitudes (e.g., rating scales), behaviors (e.g., observation checklists), and performance instruments.

mixed methods is a methodology for conducting research that involves

collecting, analyzing and integrating quantitative (e.g., experiments, surveys) and qualitative (e.g., focus groups, interviews) research.

By mixing both quantitative and qualitative research and data, the researcher gains

in breadth and depth of understanding and corroboration, while offsetting the weaknesses inherent to using each approach by itself.

Determining dose of exercise training for workers with early Parkinson's Disease Non-motor

learning & memory behavior

Structured interview: The Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) interview, used by researchers and clinicians for decades, can be used for

diagnostic purposes for anyone with a mental age of at least 18 months and measures behavior in the areas of reciprocal social interaction, communication and language, and patterns of behavior.

Determining dose of exercise training for workers with early Parkinson's Disease Biometric measures:

heart rate VO2 max EKG Stress test

quantitative data collection for activity

Actigraphy measures - sleep, activity, ..

Determining dose of exercise training for workers with early Parkinson's Disease Motor:

Gait Posture Tremors

Types of Quantitative data collection

Self-report forms Structured interview Interviews with rating scales Observational checklists or rating scales Calibrated measurement devices Tests

validity

The degree to which a study accurately reflects or assesses the specific concept that the researcher is attempting to measure.

reliability

The extent to which an experiment, test, or any measuring procedure yields the same result on repeated trials.

structured interview/autism diagnostic interview revised interview

The questions are very open-ended and the investigator is able to obtain all of the information required to determine a valid rating for each behavior.

Determining dose of exercise training for workers with early Parkinson's Disease proposed CNS response:

elevation of neurotrophic factors and dopamine

Research has shown that intensive exercise on parkinsonian animal disease models has......(Lau et al., 2011).

neuroprotective effects with a significant deterrence in the loss of neuronal dopamine-producing cells and indicators of function

Qualitative data consists of

open-ended information that the researcher usually gathers through interviews, focus groups and observations.

PD study: To our knowledge, these findings have not been translated to biometric measures in humans to determine appropriate exercise dose for PD. While exercise has been shown to ___________ (Ahlskog, 2011; Uhrbrand et al., 2015), we need more insight into the potential neurophysiological central nervous system (CNS) changes, and optimal dosage guidelines of exercise for people with PD (Alberts et al., 2011; Moore et al., 2013; Rosenfeldt et al., 2015) as an alternative to invasive treatments and medications with debilitating side effects.

reduce symptoms of PD in multiple studies

Determining dose of exercise training for workers with early Parkinson's Disease proposed functional change:

repair neuroprotection neurogenesis

behavior

social coping stress sleep ADLs

structured interview

standard set of questions and nothing more (not a qualitative method)

the analysis of quantitative data consists of

statistically analyzing scores collected on instruments (e.g., questionnaires) or checklists to answer research questions or to test hypotheses.

One of the most advantageous characteristics of conducting mixed methods research is

the possibility of triangulation, i.e., the use of several means (methods, data sources and researchers) to examine the same phenomenon.