Units
Research in Human Movement
Unit code: HMB276
Contact hours: 3 per week
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
This unit includes principles of research: purposes, philosophy, applications. It addresses quantitative research including basic statistics, descriptives, ANOVA, correlation, regression and non-parametrics, and basic research design hypothesis testing. Qualitative research includes methodology, data collection, and theory building. Research presentation includes: writing a research report and developing conclusions. This unit also considers application of research, examples in human movement, related literature, computer data analysis, and information retrieval.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 Semester 2 | Yes |
Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
On completion of this unit you should display an understanding of the fundamental processes of science as a contributor to knowledge. This will allow you to think about, discuss and evaluate extant contributions to the scientific literature in the field. The unit provides an introduction to relevant statistics, a conceptual map of the scientific process quantitative and qualitative aspect of research design and SPSS computer skills necessary to enable data storage, retrieval and analysis and presentation. The unit is designed to meet the needs such as your ability read and critically assess published (both electronic and print) research in the field.
Aims
This unit will provide you with the important skills required to solve problems encountered in your daily and professional life. You will learn how to acquire valid information on a topic and then devise methodologies to solve the problem. Subsequently, you will develop an understanding of how to statistically analyse the data collected and finally acquire skills necessary for the professional dissemination of the results.
Objectives
On completion of this unit you should be able to:
- Describe the principles of the research investigation process and apply these in specific situations;
- Conduct literature searches using on-line databases, of primary sources, efficiently and systematically;
- Using appropriate statistical techniques found within SPSS, analyse data, that has been accumulated from an approved research design;
- Design a possible research project and present the findings in a professional manner combining oral and written skills;
- Document the interdisciplinary nature of HMS and be familiar ethical issues inherent in human research.
Content
- Basics of measurement including validity, reliability, objectivity and methods of characterising tests;
- Research design including experiment design, sources of error, and cause and effect;
- Statistics including descriptives, central tendency, variance;
- Association and relationships between variables including correlation and regression;
- Inferential analysing differences including t-tests, ANOVA and Factorial ANOVA;
- Principles of design of study;
- Information Retrieval Skills and Scientific Writing.
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
Lectures and assigned readings will be used to introduce the essential concepts and content. A number of practical sessions will be set aside to examine error associated with data acquisition techniques. Workshops to develop computer based data processing competencies will be employed.
Assessment name:
Computer Workshops
Description:
You will undertake 2 online workshops, with a weighting of 10% each, to provide you with experience in employing SPSS.
Relates to objectives:
3 & 4.
Weight:
20%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Weeks 3 and 5
Assessment name:
Assignment & Presentation
Description:
Group presentation on a topic within the Exercise and Movement Science field based on statistics, research design, and data analysis and interpretation (details handed out in tutorial).
Relates to objectives:
1, 2 & 5.
Weight:
40%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Group
Due date:
Weeks 8-12
Assessment name:
Examination (Theory)
Relates to objectives:
1 & 3.
Weight:
40%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
End of Semester
Academic Honesty
QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.
A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.
Resource materials
Required text:
Field, A. (2009). Discovering statistics using SPSS (3rd ed.). London, UK: Sage Publications.
References:
- Berg, K.E., & Latin, R. W. (2004). Research methods in health, physical education, exercise science and recreation (2nd ed.). Sydney: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
- Baumgartner, A., & Jackson, A.S. (1999). Measurement for evaluation in physical education and exercise science. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
- Hyllegard, R., Mood, D., & Morrow, J. (1996). Interpreting research in sport and exercise science. New York: Mosby.
- Safrit, M. & Wood, T. (1995). Introduction to measurement in physical education and exercise science. New York: Mosby.
- Thomas, J., Nelson, J., & Silverman, S. (2005). Research methods in physical activity (ed. 4). Champaign, Ill: Human Kinetics.
- Vincent, W. J. (1999). Statistics in kinesiology (2nd ed.). Champagne Ill: Human Kinetics.
Risk assessment statement
There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.
Last modified: 27-Sep-2012
