A friend of mine finished fourth in her age group in the world duathlon (run, ride, run). She has two bicycles that differ along several variables, but she isn’t sure which one will be best for the next season. How could she find out?
Write the methods section for an experiment.
See later post.
Here is what i come up with. will you see if it make sense?
Recruit few random women from her age group.
Randomly divided them into 2 groups
Assign each group one of the bicycle.
Let the two groups compete and see which group perform better.
Why not have them later switch bicycles and race again?
Methods:
1. Experimental Design:
a. Randomly assign the two bicycles to two different groups.
b. Group 1 will use Bicycle A for training and racing in the next duathlon season.
c. Group 2 will use Bicycle B for training and racing in the next duathlon season.
2. Participants:
a. Select a group of participants who are experienced duathletes and have similar fitness levels and abilities.
b. Ensure that all participants have used both types of bicycles previously to avoid bias.
3. Variables:
a. Independent Variable: Type of bicycle (Bicycle A and Bicycle B).
b. Dependent Variable: Performance in the next duathlon season (measured by finishing position).
4. Training:
a. Each participant will be required to train on the assigned bicycle for a predetermined period before the duathlon season.
b. Participants should follow a standardized training protocol that includes a mix of running and cycling to measure the performance on both disciplines.
5. Measurements:
a. Capture the finishing position of each participant in their respective age groups in the next duathlon season.
b. Record any other relevant performance metrics, such as time taken for each segment (running and cycling) or average speeds.
6. Data Analysis:
a. Compare the performance of participants using Bicycle A to those using Bicycle B.
b. Use statistical analysis, such as t-tests or ANOVA, to determine if there are significant differences in performance between the two bicycles.
c. Consider additional factors, such as comfort, handling, and overall preference expressed by the participants.
7. Ethical Considerations:
a. Ensure that all participants are fully informed about the experiment's purpose and procedures and provide their informed consent.
b. Protect the privacy and anonymity of participants by anonymizing the data and utilizing confidentiality procedures.
c. Adhere to any applicable ethical guidelines and regulations regarding human research.
8. Limitations:
a. Consider possible sources of bias, such as individual preferences or skill level differences.
b. The findings may be specific to the group of participants and may not be generalizable to all duathletes.
By following these methods, your friend can conduct a controlled experiment that will help in determining which bicycle is better for her next duathlon season based on performance outcomes.