Scientific Method & Research

Scientific method
The process of gaining knowledge about the universe through the observation of measurable evidence.

Headline News Be Wary!!!

The Media: not a great resource exaggerate and over-simplify

Nutrition: A very young science

New

& conflicting studies reported daily always consider the following points:
Quality of the study and design of study Who funded the study? One individual study vs. meta-analysis

Meta-analysis: A review process that involves a statistical analysis of several previously published studies, providing quantification and the strongest evidence available on a topic.

Often

not put into perspective

Study performed in a lab, but can it be generalized to the real world?

Two Broad Types of Valid Scientific Research Study Designs 1.

Observational (epidemiological)
Experimental

2.

Observational Research
Studies large populations to find relationships between two variables. Epidemiological Research is usually observational:

Study of the distribution and determinants of diseases or health outcomes in human populations. Examples: Saturated fat intake and heart disease Sodium intake and high blood pressure Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes

Observational Research
Two main techniques used in Epidemiological Research:

Retrospective techniques: Compare diets of those with a disease to a similar group (cohort) of those without a disease Prospective techniques: Diets of individuals without a disease are studied for years and then related to those who do and do not develop the disease
E.g. Nurses Health Study

http://www.channing.harvard.edu/nhs/?page_id=70

Observational Research

It does show an important relationship between 2 variables i.e. diet and health
It does not establish cause and effect relationship between the 2 variables

Experimental Research

Essential to establishing a cause & effect relationship

Cause and effect Independent variable cause (Diet) Dependent variable effect (Heart disease)

Randomized

controlled trials (RCTs)

Experimental Research
Conditions

for best experimental research Gold Standard Randomization of subjects

Control

(placebo) condition Treatment group vs. control group procedure

Double-blind

Experimental Design Randomized Controlled Trial

Experimental Research
Studies

on sports performance

Mostly

laboratory studies Some designed to mimic actual sports performance. BUT, few studies during actual competition.

Reading & Interpreting a Study

Abstract = summary Introduction = Gives background States purpose and hypothesis Methods = how study was conducted study design Who participants, inclusion/exclusion criteria Where - lab, clinic, field What/How Treatment, materials Data analysis Results = what was found statistical significance, p value (p < 0.05) clinically significant? Conclusion = what the results indicate Discussion = insight, application, strengths & limitations, future research recommendations References