PHD646 Quantitative methodology (Spring 2025)

The course aims to give updated knowledge, skills, and general qualifications/competencies of the most used quantitative research designs, including basic statistical methods in sports science. Furthermore, to understand psychometric properties of measurement methodology and statistical analyses. The students should also clearly show how to use this knowledge related to their own PhD project as well as discuss other measurements used in quantitative research designs. The course relates to research methodology in health science, medicine, biomechanics, physiology, and social science. The PhD students will work with their research questions, designs, and measurement methods and develop critical skills to appraise the strengths and limitations of their chosen methodology and statistical analysis methods. The course gives in-depth understanding of the evaluation of measurement methods' properties such as responsiveness, reliability, and validity, including relevant statistical methods to quantify these properties. The course contains two different courses:

1. Design and Analysis of Quantitative Sport Science Research: 2.5 points

2. Measurements in quantitative research: 2.5 points

After completing the course, the student must be able to:

• use different recruitment procedures for calculating sample size, representativeness and generalization
• measure characteristics (sensitivity, reliability and validity) and use the corresponding statistical method
• find the strengths and weaknesses of different research designs and how these affect the ability to draw conclusions about causality and connections
• apply statistical methods to analyze data in different research designs
• critically assess (critical appraisal) the hierarchy for evidence-based practice
• identify and critically assess the strengths and limitations of various measurement methods and research designs
• justify the use of statistical methods in own research and critically assess statistical methods used in published studies
• present orally and in writing own research questions, choice of measurement methods and research design as well as justify choice of statistical methods in data analysis
• present and discuss research results and methodological issues with own and others' data with colleagues in national and international scientific forums
• identify new and relevant research questions and design new research projects in collaboration with colleagues in a relevant research environment
• participate in public debates with a background in quantitative research methods

To achieve the aim of the course, a total of 150 hours of work is required. About 30 hours will be spent on presentations and lectures by the professors. The students are expected to select and read the suggested literature relevant to their research questions ahead of the presented topics. The students must submit their overview (max 2 pages) with research questions, chosen measurement methods, study design, and planned statistical analyses ahead of the two courses (see course content for each part).

At the end of the courses, all students are required to give an oral powerpoint presentation of their revised plans.

Consists of two portfolio assessments:

1. Design and analysis of quantitative sports science research.

Assessed as pass/fail

2. Evaluation of measurements in quantitative research.

Assessed as pass/fail

Both folders must be passed.