This manuscript is to be written in a scientific format: be clear and concise – you have ~5 pages including figures. You are not required to cite sources (either in text or with a reference page). The discussion questions need to be answered in paragraph format (not like we do each week with the homework with each question numbered). This paper will count as your final exam.
The data for this manuscript is posted on blackboard as an excel file. You will have to calculate mean and standard deviation for both dependent variables for both men and women (bench press ratio, and leg press ratio). You will then statistically compare the scores from men and women on each dependent variable using a two sample assuming equal variance t-test.
Introduction:
This section should be 5-7 sentences that describe the importance of strength and skeletal muscle to overall health. Use your notes from the past 2 weeks to discuss the importance of fitness compared to body composition and why skeletal muscle is more important than fat. The first 5-6 sentences should build to your purpose. The last sentence of your introduction will be the purpose of the study.
Methods:
This section needs to be very detailed. Think of it like an instruction manual for others to exactly replicate your study. Include the number of subjects and how each dependent variable was measured.
Results:
This section is best written when figures and tables are presented along with the data written out in paragraph format. In this section, list the average and standard deviation for all dependent variables (the bench and leg press ratios for both men and women). Also, list each p value for each comparison (compare men and women). For example, you could say that “men’s bench press ratio (1.12 ± 0.78) was higher than women (0.65± 0.45) (p = 0.04).”
Graph the bench press ratio (on the y axis) of men and women (on the x axis) with a column graph. Create a similar graph for leg press ratio. Don’t forget to designate data if it’s statistically significant.
Discussion:
The first sentence of the discussion is the main finding of the study. This is directly related to the purpose you stated as the last sentence in your introduction. Your discussion is the place to interpret your results. Discuss the following in a paragraph format in your discussion:
- Describe why you took the time to measure strength. In other words, how is it related to overall health?
- Interpret our muscular fitness results. Are the values for strength, endurance, and flexibility considered healthy? Explicitly state what category our class falls into for each variable.
- Based upon the fit versus fat debate we know that fitness is more important than excess body fat. How can skeletal muscle overcome the chronic low grade inflammation associated with obesity?
- Metabolic syndrome is on the rise. With what we have learned about skeletal muscle the past 2 weeks, what are unique/new ways you as a KIN student can prescribe exercise to fight the growing number of metabolic syndrome patients.
As always, write a concluding paragraph summarizing your results and restating your main finding.
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