CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, POMONA

Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion

KIN 591 Research Design

 

 

Instructor:  Dr. Michael Liang         

email: mliang@csupomona.edu

Office Hours: Look up website or by appointment   

Phone: (909) 869-2770

Office: Building 43 Room 108A                

                                                        

 

I.   DESCRIPTIVE INFORMATION

 

  1. KIN 591 – Research Design (3 units)
  2. Catalog Description:  Examine the nature and role of applying and interpreting statistical techniques for specific problems related to our professional field.

 

  1. Class Hours: Monday 6:00 – 8:50 PM (43-110)

 

II.   Course Objectives:

 

Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:

1.            Analyze research paradigms and experimental designs;

2.            Select appropriate variables, samples, and measurement instruments in accordance

         with reliability and validity consideration;

3.            Utilize inferential statistics for hypothesis testing;

     4.      Use graphic information, computer techniques for data analysis, and interpretation of

               research reports pertaining to the field.

 

III.   Course Content:  The contents for this class will include the following:

 

1.            Orientation to statistics

2.            Hypothesis testing

3.            Descriptive statistics

4.            Inferential statistics

 

IV.   Required and Recommended Textbooks and Journals:

A.      Required Textbooks

 

Jerry R. Thomas and Jack K. Nelson. (1996). Research Methods in Physical Activity (3rd ed.), Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics. (ISBN: 088011-481-9)

 

Ted A. Baumgartner and Clinton H. Strong. (1998). Conducting and Reading Research in Health and Human Performance (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: The McGraw-Hill Companies. (ISBN: 0697-29509-5)

 

APA (1994). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (4th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. (ISBN: 1-55798-243-0).

 

     B.  Recommended journals & textbook:

              

               Miller, David K. (1994). Measurement By the Physical Educator (2nd ed.).Madison, WI: Brown

               & Benchmark Publishers. (ISBN:0-697-16621-X)

 

Isaac, Stephen and William B. Michael. (1981). Handbook in Research and Evaluation (2nd Ed.) San Diego, CA: EdITS publishers. (ISBN: 0-912736-25-9)

 

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise (Official Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine).

 

Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport (Official Journal of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance).

 

              

V.   Description of the Course:  This course provides the student with some basic statistical and measurement techniques that are frequently used in exercise science, nutrition, sports medicine, and physical activity research. The basic statistics and measurement techniques include: sampling procedures. Statistics used in describing data (e.g., measures of central tendency and variation); reliability and meaningfulness, probability and significance as they relate to inference or to generalizing the results of a study; and power in relation to probability, sample size, and effect size. This course also provides opportunities for discussion and student presentation of a typical thesis report and/or publication.  The course is geared to first year graduate students to help the student to acquire the basic skills in designing a research study.

 

VI.  Course Requirements:

      1.   Examinations (minimum of 1) on assigned readings (exam cannot be made up if missed)

2.      Individual student presentations (minimum of 1) must be given on assigned date and time:  Each student will be given a 20-minute presentation which must include:

a)      An introduction with purpose and hypothesis clear defined

b)      Review of literature and a summary

c)      Content and materials/methods of your presentation

d)      A brief discussion of the statistics used and hypothesis testing

e)      Questions from the audience

f)        Typed paper of the presentation (due after your presentation)

 

3.      Examination dates:  Mid-Term Exam  – TBA

                                    Final Exam         – TBA

 

4.      Assignments (due before the next class meeting)

 

5.      Term paper (due on 3/5/01) which must include:

a)      Purpose, hypothesis, definition of terms used, limitation and delimitation

b)      A brief review of literature and summary

c)      Methods/materials and measuring instruments/tests

d)      Statistical techniques

e)      Expected results

f)        A list of references (use the APA style) 

 

VII.  Grading Procedures:

1.  Examinations (mid-term and/or final): 60%

2.  Presentation and assignments:20%

3.  Term paper :20%                              Total: 100%

 

 

4.  Final Grade:  

A+ = or > 97%  A = 94 – 96.9%;  A- = 90 – 93.9%
B+ = 87-89.9 % B = 84 – 86.9%; B- = 80 – 83.9%
C+ = 77% C = 74 – 76.9%; C- = 70 – 73.9%
D+ = or > 67%;  D = 64 – 66.9%; D- = 60 – 63.9%;
F = or < 59.9%  

 

VIII.  Administrative Requirements:

 

1.      Students are expected to attend all classes and responsible for materials covered in class if an absence occurs;

2.      Visits to the library and the University Computing Center will not be made-up because each

visitation experience is better appreciated as a class;

3.      Exams may be made-up if an emergency arises. Please try to notify the instructor 24 hours prior to exam time if you are going to be absent.  A make-up time will be scheduled within a reasonable    

   time period compatible to the instructor’s schedule.

4.      Classroom presentation requires the student to wear proper attire (i.e., no gym shirt, T-shirt & short or wearing a hat during your presentation) and to behave professionally (i.e., use proper  

   language, no whispering, private conversation, etc.).

 

Course Syllabus:  This syllabus is the instructor’s communication with the students and will be followed. It is the student’s responsibility to read this syllabus and to ask the instructor to clarify any aspect that is unclear before the end of the 3rd week of classes.

 

Student Evaluations:  The Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion takes student evaluations very seriously. Each student has the right to evaluate each class in which they enroll. There are two types of evaluation: formal (bubble sheet) and informal written comments.  The instructor will ensure that the formal evaluation has occurred during the last week of the quarter. Informal written comments can be provided to the instructor for their personal use; however, they cannot be used for faculty evaluation. If the student would like their written comments to be used for faculty evaluation, they need to write a letter to the department chair and submit it to the department office.

 

University Policy on Dropping a Course (Instructor Initiated Drop):

Students will no longer be automatically dropped if they do not attend the first class session. The NO Show policy is modified in that instructors retain the authority to administratively drop (AD) a student from a class, but the ultimate responsibility to drop any unwanted classes is that of the student.  Administratively dropping a student because he/she does not attend the first class meeting is an option available to faculty. An instructor may also administratively drop a student who does not meet pre-requisite requirements for a course. Students are cautioned never to depend on this faculty option, but to take responsibility for appropriately dropping a class. Students who do not drop a scheduled class, which they are not attending, are subject to receiving a failing grade. The term “NO Show” will be applicable only to quarters prior to summer 1999. An instructor initiated drop (AD) must be filed with the Registrar’s Office no later than the 6th day of classes (Class Schedule: Fall 2000, page 6).

 

Academic Integrity:  It is expected that all students are aware of the university policy on academic integrity as outlined in the university catalog.

 

Student Conduct and Discipline:  It is expected that all students are enrolled in this lecture class for education pursuits and that their conduct will preserve an environment that facilitates learning. This includes attending all classes on time, showing respect for the instructor and fellow students, no talking during lecture, turning pagers and cellular phones off during lecture, and staying the entire class time. Expectations of students also include good citizenship and civility in the classroom as well as on campus.

 

 

 

LECTURE OUTLINE (See Calendar)