PLANNING THE METHOD

Eliminate any alternative or rival hypotheses Ex: Shoe size and math performance

MAXICON principle

Maximize true variance while minimizing error variance

Principles for planning research

1. Less is more 2. Simple is better

PARTS OF THE METHOD SECTION

1. Participants 2. Instruments or measures 3. Procedure 4. Design and analysis

SELECTING PARTICIPANTS

Decide whom to select and why Characteristics necessary for your research (Ex: Level of fitness) Obtain permission and cooperation Find enough participants Complete a power analysis (e.g., G*power)

DESCRIBING PARTICIPANTS

Exact number of participants Include any loss of participants (i.e., mortality) Relevant characteristics Nature of the research dictates the importance

SELECTING INSTRUMENTS

What is the validity and reliability of the measure? How difficult is it to obtain the measure? (i.e., do you have access?) Do you know or can learn how to use the instrument and evaluate participants’ scores? Will the instrument yield a range of scores? Will participants complete the instrument?

DESCRIBING INSTRUMENTS

Describe the tests (Ex: Survey, Apparatus) Provide validity and reliability measures Established in previous research

PLANNING THE PROCEDURES

Collecting the data When? Where? How long? How will you acquire, record, and score the data? Planning the treatments How long, intense, and often? How will you determine participants’ adherence? Have you selected the appropriate treatment for your sample? (i.e., dose-response)

DESCRIBING THE PROCEDURE

Specific order in which the steps were undertaken Timing of the study Instructions given to participants Briefings, debriefings, and safeguards

PILOT WORK

Verifies that all instruments and procedures will function with your sample Demonstrates your proficiency with procedures Major flaws in research can be avoided

SELECTING DESIGN AND ANALYSIS

Study design (Experimental and quasi-experimental studies,Nonexperimental studies) Plan for data analysis (Quantitative(Statistics (descriptive statistics and inferential statistics)), Qualitative(Data-reduction technique (e.g., content analysis))

INTERACTION OF PARTICIPANTS, MEASUREMENTS, AND TREATMENTS

Must select the “correct” participants, measurements, and treatments Ex: In correlational studies, participants must show a range of scores on measures of interest Ex: Anxiety and motor performance Ex: In experimental studies, participants must be at the “right” level to respond to the treatment Ex: Weight training on jumping performance