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Types of Research in Athletic Training and How to Pick a Topic. Basic Science. Looks at underlying biological mechanisms Does low-level laser application cause a change in blood flow in the tissues under the treatment area. Injury Surveillance. Epidemiology
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Types of Research in Athletic Training and How to Pick a Topic
Basic Science • Looks at underlying biological mechanisms • Does low-level laser application cause a change in blood flow in the tissues under the treatment area
Injury Surveillance • Epidemiology • Deals with incidence and/or prevalence of injury in a certain population • Do female basketball players have a higher incidence (or prevalence) of ACL injury compared to their male counterparts? • Not necessarily asking why, just yet.
Applied and Clinical Studies • Applied typically uses healthy subjects • Does low level laser increase flexibility? • Clinical typically use a population with disorders or the treatment used in that population • Does low level laser improve ligament healing in individuals with 2nd degree MCL sprains?
Categories of Applied and Clinical Studies • Cohort • Prospective • Retrospective • Cross-sectional • Case-control • Randomized control • Cross-over • Case study • Case series
Multicenter Studies • A single, large research study conducted at multiple sites • Advantage - number of subjects • Disadvantage - coordinating the whole thing
Meta-analysis • Analyze existing studies • Extensive literature review and statistical analysis
Educational Research • Learning styles • Instructional methods • Clinical Instruction • Program administration
Qualitative • Closely tied to educational research • Ethnography • Phenomenology • Grounded Theory
How to Pick a Topic • Are you interested in the topic? • Is the faculty member you are working with interested in the topic? • Do they have expertise in the topic? • Is the appropriate instrumentation available? • Do you know how to use instrumentation? • Are there subjects available? • Do you have the time and resources to complete the study? • Don’t try to answer lots of questions right away!!
How to Pick a Topic Continued • Is the study original? • Does the study intentionally replicate a previously published study? • Does the topic have application to athletic training clinical practice?