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?

“…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)

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).

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

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).

Is this meaningful? Shoe size and mathematics performance are positively correlated during elementary school.

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…

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

Journal format: Participants (subjects) Instruments or apparatuses Procedures Design and analysis

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.

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

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.

Sampling Techniques Probability Sampling Non-probability Sampling Random Sampling Cluster Sampling Stratified sampling Systematic sampling Convenience Judgmental Quota

Informed Consents

Testing Instruments: State test name, author(s), date. Explain the test construct, theoretical background. List and explain the test’s validity and reliability.

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

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

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

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

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.

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