BPK 304W

Inquiry and Measurement in

Biomedical Physiology and
Kinesiology

Fall 2022
Sabrina S.M. Lee PhD
Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology
Simon Fraser University
Today’s Agenda
1. Introductions
2. Course Overview
3. The Scientific Method
4. How to read a journal article
 B.Sc (Physiology)

• Assistant professor
• Adjunct assistant professor (current)
• Director of Neuromuscular Biomechanics Lab

Post-doctorate fellow
(Neuromuscular/ Clinical
M.Sc (Kinesiology; biomechanics) Biomechanics)
Ph.D (Kinesiology; biomechanics)

2021 – present

Potential
jobs
Post-doctorate fellow (e.g. Nike)
Course Description
In BPK 304W, we strive to start thinking and working like
researchers.

The course emphasizes:

– Application of statistical methods to data analysis
through hands on experience with SPSS & Excel
– Scientific writing
– Methods of data acquisition, signal processing, and
analysis with Excel and Matlab
Students will build competence and skills in:
– Research design
– Data analysis
– Scientific writing
– Basic programming
 Classroom Environment

Photo by Belinda Fewings on Unsplash

Trusting. Safe. Inclusive. Supportive. Community.

 Your Teaching Team
Your Instructor:
Dr. Sabrina Lee
[email protected] All office hours will be
Office hours: Wed 1-2pm held on Zoom

Your TA: Pop by office hours to

Sean Gaiesky say hi.
[email protected]
Office hours: TBD
Please use “BPK304W”
in the subject line of
email correspondence.
TA
§ Sean Gaiesky ([email protected])
§ Current PhD student working with Dr. Chris
Napier
§ Researching the use of wearable
technologies to monitor running-related
injuries and running performance.
§ Previously worked in the UK as a
biomechanist at a sport technology
company and as the sport science lead at
West London Track & Field.
What Can You Expect From Me?

• Incorporate feedback into my teaching (when possible)

• Transparency about the course (grading, expectations, etc)

• Responsiveness (if I don’t reply in 24 hours, email me again)

• Communication (in lecture, email, Canvas, office hours)

What I Expect From You

• Keep up with lectures and lab

• Review course content
• Complete assignment independently
• Complete practice problems
• Academic integrity
• Use the discussion board to get to know your peers
• Participate in the course surveys throughout the term
• Ask for help (lecture, tutorials, email (BPK304 in subject line), Canvas, office
hours)
• Ask Questions!
Mental Health Resources @ SFU

• SFU Student Services Health and

Counselling:
https://www.sfu.ca/students/health/
• Here2Talk (BC Government):
– Free by app, phone, or online chat for
postsecondary students
– 1-877-857-3397https://here2talk.caApp:
https://here2talk.ca/about
 Course Logistics

Lectures:
Monday 2:30-4:20
Wednesday 2:30-3:20

Tutorials/Lab:
Tuesdays – please check your section
Start in Week 2

Course Website:
https://canvas.sfu.ca
 Course Logistics
Text:
Inquiry & Measurement in Kinesiology, Ward & Mackey 2013
Custom text written specifically to cover the diverse topics in this course
Chapters are posted as .pdf files on the Canvas website at NO CHARGE

Software:
We will use EXCEL, SPSS, MATLAB for data analysis.
You do NOT need to buy SPSS or EXCEL or MATLAB; they are all
available on SFU computers, available for download (Excel and Matlab)
and have remote options (all).
(https://www.sfu.ca/information-systems/services/computer-
labs/remote/undergraduate.html)
PLEASE get your remote access set up for your first lab in Week 2
so you can try before the lab! (more on this later)
Software
• SPSS
– Available on all SFU computers
– Also, can use remote access (https://www.sfu.ca/information-
systems/services/computer-labs/remote/undergraduate.html)
Software
• Excel
– Available for download (SFU IT)
– Available on all SFU computers
– Also, can use remote access (https://www.sfu.ca/information-
systems/services/computer-labs/remote/undergraduate.html)
Software
• Matlab (more info will be provided later in the semester)
– Available for download deskstop
(https://www.sfu.ca/information-systems/services/software/matlab.html)
– Available online version
– Available on all SFU computers
– Also, can use remote access (https://www.sfu.ca/information-
systems/services/computer-labs/remote/undergraduate.html)
Course Logistics
Lecture Slides:
I will post lecture slides (.pdf) on Canvas before lecture begins
Lecture will be recorded; recordings will be posted on Canvas

Time Management:
I think you will find the amount and pace of course material quite
manageable
Note: The 2nd half of the course is busier than the 1st half
 Lecture_Quiz_Lab_Exam Schedule
(updated and posted)
WEEK LECTURES (MON AND WED) LAB (TUESDAY) QUIZ AND ASSIGNMENT
DATE (FRIDAY) DATE

1 Sept 7 No lab
Course Overview and Scientific Method

2 Sept 12 and 14 How to read a journal article Sept 13

Normal Distribution, Descriptive Statistics, Library Workshop Lab #1 – Normality/ Descriptives

3 Sept 19 and 21 How to read a journal article Sept 20 Sept 23

Inferential Statistics and Differences between Means I (T-Tests, ANOVA, ANCOVA) Assignment #1 instructions Lab #2 – ttests/ANOVA Quiz 1

4 Sept 26 and 28 How to read a popular media article Sept 27

Differences between Means II (ANOVA, ANCOVA) Lab #3 – Results for project

5 Oct 3 and 5 How to read and write an abstract/ conference proceedings Oct 4 Oct 7
Correlation, Regression Lab #4 – correlation/regression

6 Oct 10 (no lecture) Oct 12 How to write the introduction section Oct 11 Oct 14
Nonparametric Statistics Lab #5 – non-parametric Quiz 2
Writing Assignment #1

7 Oct 17 and 19 Lab midterm review Oct 18 Oct 21

A/D Basics Lab #6 – Excel Quiz 3

8 Oct 24 and 26 Oct 25

No lecture No lecture Lab midterm

9 Oct 31 and Nov 2 How to present results (figures and tables) Nov 1 Nov 4
Intro to programming – Excel Lab #7 – Matlab intro Quiz 4
Signal processing and analysis Writing Assignment #2

10 Nov 7 and 9 How to write the discussion section Nov 8 Nov 11

Intro to programming - Matlab Lab #8- MATLAB (helmet sensor data)
Signal processing and analysis

11 Nov 14 and 16 How to edit and polish your writing Nov 15 Nov 18
EMG, GRF, accelerometer Lab #9 – time to work on video assignment Quiz 5
Writing assignment#3a

12 Nov 21 and 23 How to revise your writing Nov 22 Nov. 25

Research opportunities, details about final exam, help with video assignment Lab #10 –time to work on video assignment Video Assignment due

13 Nov 28 and 30 How to revise your writing Nov. 29 Dec. 2

Final exam Review Final exam review

14 Dec 5 – final exam (tentative)

Dec 12 – Writing assignment #3b

Tutorials/Labs
• These will be held in-person/online (as per SFU
announcements). They will not be recorded.
• You will gain hands-on experience with data analysis in SPSS,
MATLAB, and EXCEL.
• Each week you will download a data set, instructions, and
videoon what to do with the data (available on Thursday).
• Lab result sheets are entered on Canvas (available on Monday
and due Wednesday 11:59pm (enter values on Canvas, quiz-
like format, two tries)
• Make sure you understand what you are doing in each lab and
that you aren’t simply following the instructions.
• There will be one lab midterm to evaluate what you have
learned in lab.
Quizzes (not for credit)
• Five quizzes (approx. every other week, see
schedule)
• Around 5 multiple choice/short answer questions
• 15-20 min
• On Canvas
• Available Mondays (8am to 11:59pm)
• Practice quiz available (next week)
 Writing assignments
• Writing assignment #1 – Compare a popular media article to the original
scientific journal article (in pairs)

• Writing assignment #2 – Write a popular media article based on an original

scientific journal article (in pairs)

• Writing assignment #3a and #3b – Write an abstract conference

proceedings based on a dataset given in the lab. The abstract will be graded
and returned. Students will submit a revised version based on the comments
and feedback as writing assignment #3b.
 Important Dates
Week 1 Wed, Sept 7 First lecture

Week 2 Tues, Sept 13 First lab

Week 6 Fri, Oct 14 Writing Assignment #1

Week 8 Tues, Oct 25 Midterm

Week 9 Fri, Nov 4 Writing assignment #2

Week 11 Fri, Nov 18 Writing assignment #3a

Week 12 Fri, Nov 25 Video assignment

Week 14 Mon, Dec 5 Final exam (tentative)

Week 15 Mon, Dec 12 Writing assignment #3b

Attendance
• Strongly recommended

• See the course syllabus on Canvas for the

attendance policy and what to do if you miss
a marked component of the course (e.g., due
to illness)
Evaluation
Lab results sheets (weekly x 8) 10% Labs (20%)
Lab midterm 1 10%

Writing Assignment #1 15%

Writing Assignment #2 10% Writing
Writing Assignment #3a 15% Project (50%)
Writing Assignment #3b 10%

Lab/lecture (30%)
Video Assignment (MATLAB) 5%
Final Exam 25%

BPK Grading Guidelines are posted on Canvas Course Outline

Late Policies
Lab Results Sheets: No credit for handing in late.

Writing assignments: 10% deduction per day up to 50%,

after five days, the assignment will not be accepted

If there is an emergency or special accommodations is

required, please contact me ASAP.
How Can You Enhance
Your Learning?
• Attend lectures
• Attend labs
• Practice the labs each week
• Read textbook chapters before lecture
• Form small study groups with other students
• Ask questions
How Should You Study?
Lab Midterm
– Re-do the lab assignments
– Think about types of questions I may ask
Quizzes and Final Exam
– Questions will be drawn from lecture slides
– Study the PowerPoint slides
– Re-read relevant sections of the course
text
The Scientific Method of Inquiry
How to read an article
BPK 304W
Lecture 1
Imagine the following
scenario…
Your Mom is 55. She has bad arthritis in
her left knee, which causes her a lot of
pain and makes it difficult to walk and
get around. Her doctor recommended
she undergo knee replacement surgery,
but she is scared. You have a degree in
BPK, and she wants you to help her
decide what to do.

What questions would you want

answered?
Where would you seek answers?

.
The Scientific Method
(How Scientists Think)
1. Define the problem

2. Develop a research question and hypothesis

3. Test the hypothesis

4. Compile the results BPK 304W focuses

on these last 3 steps
5. Communicate the results
 1. Define the Problem
• Observe a phenomenon and gain a
deep knowledge of it

• Conduct a literature review by

thoroughly searching and reviewing
the relevant research literature

• We will have a library workshop near

the middle of the semester to help
you learn how to more effectively do
a literature search

Image from: https://stocksnap.io/photo/10Q7Y8YST0 • SFU Library provides a list of

databases relevant to BPK
https://www.lib.sfu.ca/help/research-
assistance/subject/bpk
2. Develop the Research Question & Hypothesis

Research question: precise question a study will address

- Poor example: Does exercise impact fatigue levels?

Hypothesis: statement explaining a phenomenon under

consideration, based upon researcher’s understanding before
any experimental testing has occurred.

31
2. Develop the Research Question & Hypothesis

Research question: precise question the study will address

- Poor example: Does exercise impact fatigue levels?

- Better example: Does aerobic exercise twice weekly for 30

minutes impact perceived global fatigue levels in older adults
compared to a health education control?

- Good clinical research questions specify the Patients,

Intervention, Control, and Outcomes (PICO)

Hypothesis: statement explaining a phenomenon under

consideration, based upon researcher’s understanding
before any experimental testing has occurred.
- Try rewriting the above research question as a hypothesis.
2. Develop the Research Question & Hypothesis
Research question: precise question the study will address
- Better example: Does aerobic exercise twice weekly for 30 minutes impact
perceived global fatigue levels in older adults compared to a health education
control?

Hypothesis: statement explaining a phenomenon under consideration,

based upon researcher’s understanding before any experimental testing
has occurred.

- Try rewriting the above research question as a hypothesis.

- Aerobic exercise twice weekly for 30 minutes reduces perceived global
fatigue levels in older adults compared to health education control.

A hypothesis MUST PREDICT the outcome!

 3. Test the Hypothesis
1. Hypothesis 2. Model
A model is a hypothesis that
Prediction has been shown repeatedly to
hold true under certain
modify conditions (e.g., muscle
models describe force-velocity
Experiment relationship)

Evaluate
3. Theory/Law
accuracy of
predictions When a hypothesis has been tested and
shown to hold under many experimental
conditions it may be called a theory or
law (e.g., laws of motion). Theories and
laws are difficult to dismiss as they are
based on repeated & consistent
experimental evidence.
3. Test the Hypothesis: Design a Study
Ethics approval required for human research
– University Research Ethics Board
– Study protocol, informed consent

Recruit study participants

– Choose from a variety of methods
– You may wish to use a random sampling method
– Sample size often informed by a statistical power calculation

Use measurement tools that are valid and reliable

– Valid (accurate) tools minimize systematic measurement error.
Calibration improves accuracy.
– Reliable (reproducible) tools minimize random measurement
error. Objective tools usually more reliable than subjective.
 Reliable but not valid Valid but not reliable

Measurements X XX
X

X X
Truth
X X

E.g., Weight is measured on a E.g., Weight is measured on a

digital scale within +/-1 lb on 4 digital scale within +/- 5 lb on 4
occasions but is ‘off’ by 10 lbs of occasions, but on average is equal
the truth. to the truth.
 3. Test the Hypothesis
For a given hypothesis, statistical tests allow
researchers to determine:

– Is there an effect? Is there a difference?

(T-tests, ANOVA, ANCOVA, and their non-parametric
equivalents)

– Is there a relationship? Is there an association?

(Correlation, regression, and their non-parametric
equivalents)
4. Compile the Results

• With EXCEL, SPSS,

MATLAB it is easy to do data
analysis
• But, make sure you do the
correct analysis
Image: https://onthehub.com/spss/
• Details are important
– E.g., in SPSS, use the correct
Split File or Select Cases
4. Compile the Results:
Types of Variables
Independent variable (IV): the variable that you change
or manipulate.
– Also known as predictor variable or exposure variable

Dependent variable (DV): the variable that is observed

and changes in response to the independent variable.
– Also known as outcome variable or response variable

Covariates: variables that are held constant either by

research design or statistical analysis.
– Also known as confounders or controlled variables
4. Compile the Results:
Types of Variables

Confounder (W)

Independent Dependent
Variable (X) Variable (Y)

E.g., A teacher observed that heart rate was 15

bpm higher in her students during their final
exam than during their first lecture. What are the
dependent and independent variables? What
are potential confounders?
5. Communicate the Results
Researchers have a responsibility to communicate their findings to
the rest of the scientific community, to those who fund the research
(e.g., the public), and to those who can apply the findings (e.g.,
decision makers). How?

Conferences and research symposia

• Up-to-date results that are not yet published
Peer-reviewed journal articles
• Most highly regarded form of scientific communication
Books
• Often not peer reviewed, but can reach a wide audience
Non-traditional formats with greater reach
• Blogs, social media channels, press releases, op-eds