PHD646 Quantitative methodology (Spring 2027)

ECTS Credits:
5
Responsible department:
Norges idrettshøgskole
Course Leader:
Olivier Seynnes
Lecture Semester:
Spring
Teaching language:
English
Duration:
½ year

Table of contents

Introduction

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

Registration information

Register via webform

Registration deadline 2 February 2026

Learning outcomes

After the course, the student has knowledge of:

  • Different procedures for recruiting participants and sample size calculation, representativeness, and generalization
  • Psychometric properties (responsiveness, reliability, and validity) and adjacent statistical methods
  • Strengths and limitations of different research designs and how these influence abilities to conclude causal inference and associations
  • The most used statistical methods to analyze data in different research designs
  • Critical appraisal and the hierarchy of level of evidence for evidence-based practice
  • Identify and critically appraise strengths and limitations of different measurement methods and research designs
  • Argue for the use of statistical methods in the research project and critically appraise statistical methods presented in published studies
  • Present own research questions, choice of measurement methods, and research designs and argue for selection of statistical methods to be used in data analysis both orally and in text
  • Present and discuss research results and methodological research questions of own and peers’ data at national and international scientific meetings and conferences
  • Identify new and relevant research questions, design and use/develop measurement methods for new research projects in collaboration with colleagues in relevant research groups
  • Participate in public debates within the area of quantitative research methods

Learning methods and activities

The course is organized in two blocks and spans several days per week. The course contains presentations by the professors, presentations by students, group discussions, and reading of relevant literature on methodology.

Work requirements

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 (approximately 250 pages for each course) 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. The revised description shall be presented orally in the form of a PowerPoint presentation at the end of each course.

Assessment/exam

Consists of two portfolio assessments:

  • Design and analysis of quantitative sports science research. Assessed as pass/fail
  • Evaluation of measurement properties. Assessed as pass/fail

Both portfolios must be passed.

Core literature

Core reading for spring 2027.
Last updated from FS (Felles studentsystem) Oct. 15, 2026 3:18:55 AM