2015 - RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND STATISTICS IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND SPORT

Subject type: Basic

Coordinator: Sara González Millán

Trimester: Third term

Credits: 6

Malgrat que les classes seran en català, pot haver-hi materials en castellà i en anglès.

The subject of Research Methodology and Statistics in Physical Activity and Sport is included in the basic training of the Degree in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences (CAFE).

This subject will allow students to acquire the necessary knowledge to carry out studies of research in the field of health prevention, people's well-being, physical education, sports performance, as well as sports planning, organization and management that allows them to obtain scientific evidence that ensures optimal results when such knowledge is applied to the general population.

In this process, students will become familiar with the main designs of research studies, as well as with basic statistical techniques, which will allow them to read and critically interpret the results evidenced in the different forms of scientific dissemination in their scope Statistics will allow students describe social, physiological and / or biomechanical factors that condition the practice of physical activity and sport. This subject will also emphasize the perspective of sex and gender in the field of scientific research and the respective biases it presents.

Students will be able to prepare simple scientific works and carry out research following international standards. As well as, an improvement in their professional practice with decision-making based on scientific evidence.

This subject has methodological and digital resources to make it possible to continue it in a non-face-to-face mode if necessary for reasons related to Covid-19. In this way, the achievement of the same knowledge and skills that are specified in this teaching plan is ensured

At the end of the subject, students will be able to:

• Apply the scientific method to the various fields of physical activity and sports sciences: methodological design, records, databases and statistical analysis.
• Understand substantial problems in the sciences of physical activity and sport and propose hypotheses to design the empirical strategy for their theoretical demonstration, which would lead to the best resolution of the problems identified.
• Incorporate new technologies for obtaining records and processing information and images into physical activity and sport: formulate projects that integrate the various operations.
• Use specific English terminology related to technology, information and statistics applied to physical activity and sport: data tables, graphs, diagrams, procedures, protocols…
• To know the research in the university field and the main forums of diffusion of the scientific knowledge. Do a bibliographic search in the main databases of health and / or sports sciences and know how to write a scientific-technical article.

The modality of this subject is semi-face-to-face. The non-face-to-face part will be done using the virtual classroom, streaming resources and tools like Nearpod. All tools will be referenced and / or linked to the virtual classroom.  

The work methodology will be encouraged in three models, the inverted class, problem-based learning and cooperative learning. All three, in both face-to-face and non-face-to-face sessions.

Each ECTS is equivalent to 25 hours of student dedication, considering the time invested in the total of the activities related to the face-to-face time and the time of autonomous work, that the professor of the subject guides, as well as the reading times, information search, connection to the Virtual Classroom, elaboration of works

The subject of research methodology and biostatistics is divided into three blocks:

BLOCK I: Bibliographic search and use of scientific information

Topic 1. Bibliographic search and use of information

Topic 2. Bibliographic databases: Operation, operators and types of searches

Topic 3. Bibliographic citation: APA and Vancouver

Topic 4.Bibliographic reference managers: Basic concepts, Mendeley

BLOCK II: The scientific method

Subject 5.Introduction to the research in CAFE. Scientific method. Types of research

Item 6. The scientific process. Research phases.

1. Phases of the research
2. The research question
3. Objectives and hypotheses
4. Types of studies
5. The study population. Sampling
6. Data Collection Methods (Empirical Part of Research). Variables and measuring instruments
7. Validity of research. Types of bias in research

Unit 7. Introduction to the critical literature of scientific articles

1. Types of scientific articles
2. Structure of a scientific article
3. Levels of evidence

Subject 8. The ethics in the investigation

BLOCK III: Biostatistics

Item 9. Introduction to statistics

1. Databases
2. Statistical packages
3. Types of variables and measurement scales

Item 10. Descriptive statistics

1. Frequency tables
2. Contingency and categorization tables.
3. Central tendency estimators
4. Dispersion and position estimators

Subject 11.Distributions of Probability

Item 12. Inference Statistics

1. Hypothesis test
2. Types of errors and p-value
3. Punctual estimators
4. Confidence intervals
5. Comparison of averages
6. Comparison of proportions

Throughout the term, different training methodologies and learning activities are proposed that allow the student to continuously improve and acquire the skills and learning outcomes of the subject.

All the activities proposed are designed so that students have a practical perspective on the topics that are developed throughout the term. These are specified in the following types of activity:

• Plenary sessions

These are sessions, of which 50% are face-to-face and the other 50% virtual. Both are taught to the whole group. In the face-to-face classes, teaching methodologies of master class are used, while in the virtual ones the knowledge is acquired through the inverted class.

• Practical sessions (Workshops). 

These are sessions, of which 50% are face-to-face and the other 50% virtual. Both are taught in small groups. In the face-to-face sessions, practical cases will be discussed to bring the theoretical knowledge acquired in the plenary sessions to real application. Emphasis will be placed on peer-to-peer and problem-solving-based learning, which will allow students to demonstrate the learning outcomes acquired independently. Thus ending the wheel of the learning process of the part of flipped classes that will be carried out in the online master sessions. On the other hand, in the online sessions the students will be asked to carry out cases that put into practice the knowledge imparted in the face-to-face plenary sessions. The students will have a guide for the execution of the cases that will allow them to enhance their autonomy when it comes to practical application and work on their decision-making skills independently (Independent Study). These sessions will be online although each of the groups will have an established schedule in which students, either individually or in groups, will be able to connect synchronously and voluntarily with the teacher.

• Tutorials

These are sessions in which, in groups with small groups or individually, the students raise their queries, doubts about those aspects that need clarification, reinforcement, etc. 

These tutorials are planned of two types:

1. Weekly tutorials that are on schedule to accompany the weekly practice session
2. Tutoring depending on the needs of the students. These will take place throughout the term by prior appointment via e-mail.

Through the different assessment activities, the aim is to find out if the students have acquired the knowledge, skills and attitudes described in the teaching plan of the subject. The assessment will have an eminently practical component both through continuous assessment activities and in the written test.

It will be valued

• Recognize the type of problem and identify the relevant components.
• Identify the contents and procedures that must be applied to solve certain problems.
• Justify the procedure selected in the resolution of a case study and express its conditions of application.
• Interpret the results obtained, assessing the relevance to the question posed and the results obtained.
• Relate contents of different topics

The following table describes the different assessment activities and the corresponding skills that are being assessed. Likewise, the weighting of each activity in the calculation of the subject's final grade is detailed.

To pass the subject, it is mandatory to pass the synthesis test with a minimum of 5/10.

The total or partial copy in any of the learning activities will mean a "Not Presented" in the subject, without option to present in the proof of recovery and without prejudice of the opening of a file for this reason

Recovery:

According to current regulations, only those students who have obtained a grade of suspense in the synthesis test during the ordinary period.

The final recovery mark will be the mark of the recovery synthesis test,

To pass the recovery it is mandatory to pass the synthesis test with a minimum of 5/10. 

Note: The qualification system of this subject will follow the European system for university degrees established in RD 1125/2003 of 5 September

Pacios Lozano, Ana Reyes (2013). Techniques for searching and using information. Madrid: Editorial Universitaria Ramón Areces.

Argimon Pallàs, Josep Maria and Jiménez Villa, Josep (2012). Methods of Clinical and Epidemiological Research (4th ed.). Madrid: Elsevier.

Torres Huertas, José (2016). Biostatistics. Madrid: Dextra Editorial.

Thomas, JR, Nelson, JK, & Mata, MJ (2007). Research methods in physical activity. Paidotribo.

Martínez González MA, Sánchez-Villegas A, Toledo Atucha EA, Faulin Fajardo J (2014). Friendly biostatistics (3rd edition). Barcelona Elsevier

De Larrucea, JR (2017). Introduction to research. In How to research: final degree project, master's thesis, doctoral thesis and other research work. (pp. 11-26). Profit.

Heinemann, K. (2003). Introduction to the methodology of empirical research in the sciences of physical activity and sport. Barcelona: Editorial Paidotribo

Pompeu Fabra University. (nd). How to write an academic paper: Final degree project. https://guiesbibtic.upf.edu/treball-academic/formats/tfg

CASPe critical reading program (various tools). Available in http://www.redcaspe.org

Lluch, Gemma and Nicolás, Miquel (2015). Academic writing. Planning, documentation, writing, citation and models. Barcelona: Editorial UOC.

 Pompeu Fabra University. (nd). Mendeley: Bibliography Manager. Retrieved from http://guiesbibtic.upf.edu/mendeley