User:Kellie Toohey/Learning Outcomes/5. Design a research plan apposite to a particular research question

Strengths:

Understanding of exercise research methodologies and their application Organisational skills

Experience in exercise prescription

Experience in exercise application - testing and training

Weaknesses:

Statistical techniques and analysis skills

Research design

Up-skilling required for writing

Theory of method section

To attain valid results the study will need to ensure reliability of testing protocols.

PHASE 1 will involve a survey based protocol. Patients in the database have given connect to be involved in research and will be contacted via email to ask to participate in this study. Data from this study will give a profile of the physical activity levels of a cancer survivor and the health outcomes from pre-diagnosis up to 10 years post treatment.

For PHASE 2 and 3 of the project results will be attained through physiological methods and physical health variables will be measured. The main physiological measure the sphygmoCor system has been used in over 200 research articles. Set up, calibration and subject variations will be documented prior to testing to provide reliable testing conditions, whilst maintaining statistical outliers.

Research plan:

The research plan/proposal consist of the research proposal, literature review, intervention study, data collection and analysis and research reports. It is in development and has been a major work in progress. I am continuing to update and reassess the way we will run the research. My supervisors have been supportive and continually challenge me and ensure I am on the right track and following the process. Without my primary supervisor I would be going round in circles at this stage.

I have 6 weeks to put the finishing touches to the literature review and research proposal and I feel like I am tracking along well and learning every week about the process and the infinite detail required to ensure we have everything covered and we know the evidence out their in the area. It should be noted that the percieved reliability of measures for this research project has been developed from past knowledge through personal experiences and the literature review. Updated knowledge and up-skilling of statistical knowledge may further develop my level of understanding and change past perceptions.