Throughout this course you will be developing and writing a research paper on a topic in kinesiology

Throughout this course you will be developing and writing a research paper on a topic in kinesiology.  Your assignment this week, Critical Assignment Preparation (CAP) #1, will lay the foundation for the work to come.  Answer the questions below that relate to the following research designs commonly used in Kinesiology, using summarized and cited language from text/peer-reviewed research:

• Animal Study
• Case Report
• Meta-Analysis
• Observational Study
• Randomized Controlled Trial

1. Describe each research design, its common features, and its strengths and weaknesses.
2. Explain the kinds of conclusions that can be drawn from each research design as well as the specific kinds of conclusions that can't be drawn from the designs. For example, you've likely heard that "correlation does not equal causation," which tells us a specific limit on the conclusions of such a design. 
3. Create/adapt a graphic that illustrates the various research designs in a heirarchy of scientific evidence.  The research design that results in the strongest evidence should be on top of the heirarchy, and the design with the weakest evidence on the bottom.  You are encouraged to use outside resources, but they do not have to come directly from peer-reviewed research in this instance. 
4. In the upcoming weeks you'll be writing a research paper using mock data.  Sample topics are identified in the attached document. 
   1. Identify one chosen topic from those listed that you will be focusing on for the duration of this class.
   2. Identify the independent and dependent variable(s) for your chosen topic.
5. Using online databases such as those found on the CBU Library's webpage, obtain one full-text research study on your chosen topic from each of the following designs (three total articles): meta-analysis, observational design, and randomized controlled trial design.  Provide a brief summary (75-125 words) of what was done in each article and its main findings.  At the end of your paper, write a concluding paragraph that explains the importance of reading multiple research studies to learn more about a topic, and how the various research designs leads to a fuller picture regarding the body of knowledge on your topic. What information might you have missed had you only examined one type of research design?

What is due:

• Word document addressing prompts above. Use numerals 1-5 to identify your responses to each prompt, but please write in paragraph style.  Be sure you are following APA formatting guidelines throughout.