RESEARCH METHODS IN KINESIOLOGY

KINE 5300

Spring, 2005

Syllabus

Professor:Dr. Joel T. Cramer, CSCS,*D; NSCA-CPT,*D, ACSM H/FI

Office:228 Exercise Science Research Laboratories (ESRL)

Phone:817-272-5784

E-mail:

Office hours:General open hours to be announced. Individual appointments may also be arranged.

Meeting time:Wednesday, 6:00 PM – 8:50 PM

Graduate Credit:3 semester credit hours

Textbook:Baumgartner, T.A., Strong, C.H., and L.D. Hensley. Conducting and Reading Research in Health and Human Performance, 3rd ed. McGraw-Hill.2002. (ISBN 0-07-248903-0)

Course Objectives:

The purpose of this course is to introduce graduate students to the basic and advanced levels of research design, analysis, and reporting, and in doing so, preparing them for their thesis and/or dissertation proposals.

Course Description:

This course is an overview of the concepts and procedures necessary for designing, conducting, analyzing, and reporting research in Kinesiology from the perspective of multiple research paradigms. The course will focus on the steps involved in the administration of a research project, including literature reviews, research model designs, data collection and analyses, and reporting.

Grading:

As a policy of The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) outlined in the official Graduate Catalog, graduate credit will be given for grades of A, B, or C (as well as P) for work done at UTA, subject to the following conditions:

  1. The student must maintain a B average in all work in the major.
  2. The student must maintain a B average in all work in the minor or minors.
  3. The student must maintain a B average in all advanced work.

Grades in this course will be based on accumulated point totals, although attendance is required for successful completion of this course – see below under Attendance Policy.

Graded Course RequirementsPercentage of Total Grade

Exams and Assignments:45%

Writing Projects:40%

Presentations: 15%

Exams, Presentation, IRB Project, Written Proposal, and Oral Proposal:

Exams will cover the lecture notes, textbook readings,and/or assigned readings. The exams may be conductedin a closed-book and closed-note fashion, which may include (a) definitions, (b) multiple choice, (c) fill in the blank, (d) short answer, and (e) essay questionsor the exams may be take-home, open-book, open-note.

Normally, no make up exams will be given. In all cases, it will be the student’s responsibility to consult with the professor regarding missed exams. However, regardless of the absence and/or notice, missed exams can only be taken during the last week of scheduled classes (i.e., dead week, the week prior to finals).

Each student will give two in-class presentations: (1) the review of literature/research questionand (2) the Oral Proposal. Thereview of literature/ research question presentation will be conducted in the same professional manner as a free communication slide presentation, such as those presented at regional and national conferences (examples: the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) national meetings). The Oral Proposal presentation will be conducted as a real Thesis or Dissertation Oral Proposal meeting.

The IRB project isintendedtoprepare each graduate student for submitting an IRB proposal for the necessary institutional approval of ANY research conducted. A rough draft will be critiqued and a final draft will be submitted for a grade.

The Written Proposal is intended to prepare each graduate student for submitting their Thesis or Dissertation proposals. Among other things, the Written Proposal contains the first 3 chapters of the Thesis or Dissertation (i.e., 1. Introduction, 2. Review of Literature, and 3. Methods). A rough draft will be critiqued and a final draft will be submitted for a grade. The final draft will be due at the time of the Oral Proposal (near the end of the semester).

Attendance Policy:

An absence is defined as a student being more than 15 minutes late to class and/or missing class for any reason. Students are allotted one absence throughout the semester without losing course points. After the first absence, each subsequent absence is worth one letter grade. For example, if a student acquires two absences, the student’s total points at the end of the course will be reduced one letter grade. If a student acquires three absences, the total points will be reduced two letter grades.

Drop/Add Policy:

Departments are no longer allowed to add students to rolls or drop students from roll with out written permission from the student. We are no longer required or allowed to drop students for never attending. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to either add or drop classes or withdraw from the university. Specific deadlines set by the University can be found in the current Schedule of Classes.

Accommodations for UTA Students with Disabilities:

If you require accommodation for a disability, you have emergency medical information, or need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, I would like to meet with you in the privacy of my office the first week of the semester to be sure you are appropriately accommodated.

Timeline for Grade Grievances:

The student has one calendar year from the date a grade is assigned to initiate a grievance. The normal academic channels are: Department Chair or Program Director; Academic Dean; and the Provost.

Academic Dishonesty:

It is the philosophy of the University of Texas at Arlington that academic dishonesty is a completely unacceptable mode of conduct and will not be tolerated in any form. All persons involved in academic dishonesty will be disciplined in accordance with University regulations and procedures. Discipline may include suspension or expulsion from the University.

“Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, collusion, the submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person, any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts.” (Regents’ Rule and Regulations, Part One, Chapter VI, Section 3, Subsection 3.2, Subdivision 3.22).

Cellular Phone Policy:

No audible cell phones or pagers will be permitted in class. Turn your cell phone off or put it on mute if you bring it to class.

Changes in Course Content/Format:

As the instructor for this course, I reserve the right to make changes in course content, as I deem appropriate and necessary.

Tentative Course Schedule
Week 1 / Jan 19 / Introductions, course description, requirements, expectations, and timelines
Week 2 / Jan 26 / The Research Problem or Question(Chapters 1, 2, and 3)
Week 3 / Feb 2 / Literature Reviews
Week 4 / Feb 9 / Reading and Evaluating Research (Chapter 6)
Week 5 / Feb 16 / IRB Training
Week 6 / Feb 23 / Writing an IRB Proposal
Week 7 / Mar 2 / Review of Literature/Research Question Presentations
Rough draft of IRB Project due
Week 8 / Mar 9 / Exam 1
Week 9 / Mar 16 / Spring Break
Week 10 / Mar 23 / Types of Research and Designs (Chapters 7 and 10)
Final draft of IRB Project due
Week 11 / Mar 30 / Types of Research and Designs (Chapters 7 and 10)
Week 12 / Apr 6 / Writing and Formatting a Thesis/Dissertation or a Manuscript (Chapter 15 and the UTA Thesis/Dissertation Guidelines)
Week 13 / Apr 13 / Calculating Statistical Power, Effect Sizes, and Sample Sizes
Rough draft of Written Proposals due
Week 14 / Apr 20 / Calculating Reliability (Weir, J.P. JSCR article)
Week 15 / Apr 27 / Exam 2
Week 16 / May 4 / Oral Proposals – Final draft of Written Proposals due
Week 17 / May 11 / Final Exam: 8:15 – 10:45 PM (scheduled)or 6:00 – 8:50 PM
Oral Proposals

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KINE 5300 Syllabus