Formulating the Method

1
Formulating the Method

• What is involved in the methods section?
• Why is the methods section so imperative to a
  study?
• Why are all the pieces of a methods section
  developed before the study is begun?

2
If a 10-kg and a 5 kg iron ball were dropped
from the Empire State Building by King Kong 40
years ago or by Arnold Schwarzenegger today, they
should strike the ground simultaneously on both
occasions. (Thomas Nelson, 2001)
3
Scientific method

• Predicated on the notion of replicability.
• That is, would anyone using the same materials
  and methods arrive at the same results? (Scherr,
  1983, p. ix).

4

• Purpose To explain how the study was conducted.
• Should be thorough enough for a competent
  researcher to reproduce the study.

5
Additionally

• The purpose of planning the method is to
  eliminate any alternative or rival hypotheses.
• For instance When you design the study
  correctly and the results are as predicted, the
  only explanation is what you did in the
  research. (Thomas Nelson, 2001, p. 62).

6
Shoe size and mathematics performance are
positively correlated during elementary school.
Is this meaningful?
7
Less is more.

• What did Thomas and Nelson mean by that
  statement?
• When ideas become so cumbersome that the study
  often fails because of the sheer complexity.
• Too many independent and dependent variables

8
Simple is better

• Keep the study straight forward so that when you
  find something you can explain, understand, and
  interpret it.

9
Journal format

• Participants (subjects)
• Instruments or apparatuses
• Procedures
• Design and analysis

10
Participants

• Describes how and why the participants were
  selected and which of the characteristics are
  important to the study. Nature of the study
  dictates what is important to add to this section.

11
Participants

• Number of participants and the number lost
• Age children, elderly, athletes..
• Sex
• Level of training (trained or untrained)
• Level of performance (experts or novices)
• Size, weight
• How they were selected
• Permission from participants, informed consent,
  IRB approval

12
Participants
In this study 48 males, ranging in age from
21-34 years were randomly selected from a group
(N 147) of well-trained runners (VO2 max 60
ml/ kg/min -1 or higher) who have been
comeptitive runners for at least 2 years. The
participants had the following characteristics
age M 26 year sd 3.3 height M 172.5 cm sd
7.5 weight 66.9 kg sd 8.7 and VO2 max M 65
ml/kg/min -1 sd 4.2. Participants were assigned
to one of four groups (n 12). IRB approval was
granted and all participants signed letters of
informed consent.
13
Sampling Techniques

• Probability Sampling

• Non-probability Sampling

• Random Sampling
• Cluster Sampling
• Stratified sampling
• Systematic sampling

• Convenience
• Judgmental
• Quota

14
Informed Consents
15
Testing Instruments

• State test name, author(s), date.
• Explain the test construct, theoretical
  background.
• List and explain the tests validity and
  reliability.

16
Apparatus

• Identify apparatus and describe its function
• List model, company, so forth
• Standard laboratory equipment usually mentioned
  without detail

17

• Identify specialized equipment obtained from
  commercial supplier
• BY
• Model number and suppliers name and
  location.
• WHY?

18

• Use a drawing of photograph to illustrate complex
  or customized or custom made equipment.

19
Procedures

• Detailed instructions to participants
• Administration of tests
• Timing of study
• Step by step process from beginning to end.

20
Design and analysis

• Identify design type
• Identify statistical techniques
• Justify use of statistical technique if there is
  question about appropriateness.
• List independent and dependent variables.

21

• Identify assumptions of statistical technique and
  evaluation of assumptions.
• Identify probability level