University of Phoenix 1

Week 3: Research Critique on Caffeine Dose Response

Experimentation Critique
Mr. Pierre Arbajian
Week 3
Frederick R. Paige III












University of Phoenix 2
Athletes today use a variety of research to enhance performance and have better
outcomes on the field, court, track, and ice and in type of competition. Athletes want to win
and training and research has become a major part in an athletes workout regiment. They
want to be bigger, stronger, faster and win more than their opponents; therefore training is
not enough. Researching many variables on how to enhance the body is essential to
winning. Specific research was done on Dose response effects of a caffeine-containing
energy drink on muscle performance by Journal of the International Society of Sports
Nutrition. In this research a randomized order was chosen for 12 active participants to see
the effects and non-effects of taking energy drinks that have caffeine-congaing supplements
in them in a sport setting.
Most researchers are interested in the relationships among the independent and
dependent variables. Cooper and Schnidler (2011) state that the Independent variable is
manipulated by the researcher, and the manipulation causes an effect on the dependent
variable. We recognize that there are often several independent variables and that the are
probably at least some what correlated and therefore not independent among
themselves. In this research the independent variable was the six participants who took
the caffeine energy drink. The dependent variable of this research was the six participants
who took the same drink without caffeine. The dependent variable of this experiment was
measured and monitored against the independent variable; those participants who took
the caffeine-containing energy drink.
This study contained twelve randomly selected, healthy and active participants. The
variety of the subjects tested were men and women who were considered healthy but have
not been involved in any resistance training programs prior to this experiment, and had no
University of Phoenix 3
extreme physical limitations of injuries that could have affected the outcome of this
experiment. The diversity of the participants who participated in this research was an
example of event sampling where the researcher monitors the behaviors of the body and
the cause and effects of the two variables.
Research is conducted for a reason and usually measures the researchers
hypothesis as to why the research is being done and to substantiate a prediction. In this
Dose Response Caffeine-Containing experiment, the hypothesis is that those who take a
caffeine drink before exercising have a greater comparison to those who do not take it.
Coso, Salinero, Millan and Gonzalez (2012) state. Energy drinks have become the most
used caffeine-containing beverages in the sport setting. The aim of this study was to
determine the effects of two doses of a caffeine-containing energy drink on muscle
performance during upper- and lower-body power-load tests.
A strong hypothesis is that the participants who were going to ingest the caffeine
energy drink were going to perform better than those who did not. The hypothesis
identified the original condition and clearly defined the distinction between the
independent and dependent variables that would be tested. The hypothesis also provided
a good framework for the design of the experiment and was adequately tested using a wide
variety of selected participants. It cannot be defined if this hypothesis and experiment
outcomes are better than the rivals because there is so much research regarding sports and
sports medicine. The research for this topic is wide and vast therefore; it cannot be
adequately determined if this provides a greater scope of information than its rivals.
In order to determine accurate results for this study there were measures in place
that all participants had to be tested under. The experimental design was a double-blind,
University of Phoenix 4
placebo controlled and randomized experiment. The basis of this design was to get equal
readings for each of the twelve participants in a controlled laboratory condition. Factors
included temperature, humidity, time of ingestion, and different amounts of caffeine
ingested to achieve varied results of each participant. Each element phase was carefully
timed and monitored by laboratory conditions to ensure results were consistent with each
participant. This is the example of the scientific method where direct observation is done
and the variables are clearly defined.
Athletes and researchers use information and studies like this one to determine if a
hypothesis is accurate or not. By using random athletes in this study it can be understood
that this form of sampling applies to athletes and those who deem themselves athletic.
The basic idea of sampling is that by selecting some of the elements in a population, we
may draw conclusions about the entire population. Cooper & Schnidler (2011). The
sampling of this study was not aimed towards the entire population, but this study only
shows that it applies to athletes. The sampling used for this research was done in a manner
for athletes to achieve a greater accuracy in results.
The conclusion of this hypothesis was A caffeine does of at least 3 mg/kg in the
form of an energy drink is necessary to significantly improve half-squat and bench-press
maximal muscle power. Structured scientific research was clearly defined in order to get
this hypothesis and many controlled variables were measured to determine this outcome.
Random athletic participants were selected for the start of this experiment and the
experimental design was used to determine a base for the study. Each of the participants
was carefully measured for times of rest and during the experimental trials. The energy
drinks that were used, were consistent, measured, and administered to each participant at
University of Phoenix 5
the same time. Statistical analysis was done on metabolic heart rete, blood pressures and
rest periods and was calculated on a computer for precise analytical data. The hypothesis
supported the conclusion and scientific method was used to validate the findings.
In my opinion, this research is considered reliable and valid for its findings. The
controlled environment that was used supported the hypothesis for the audience it was
intended for; athletes. The research was clear, concise and accurately calculated. The data
was collected, analyzed and sourced using a computer system to accurately identify the
findings. I firmly believe that if the results of this experiment were done under the same
conditions by another researcher, the findings would be the same. In support of the
validity of the research, the hypothesis supported itself as a scientific truth establishing
that athletes perform better when using caffeine products before working out.












University of Phoenix 6
References
Cooper, D. R. & Schindler, P. S. (2011). Business research methods (11
th
ed.). New York:
McGraw-Hill Irwin.
Dose response effects of a caffeine-containing energy drink on muscle performance: a
repeated measures design. (2012, May). Journal of the Internation Science of Sports
Nutrition, 9(21), . Retrieved from http://www.jissn.com/content/9/1/21