EXSC 525 Research Methods in Exercise Science Discussion

Writing Topic: One of your colleagues is planning on changing (ie. altering the numbers) his collected data to make the data “say” what he wants the data to state. His plan is to submit the abstract to a national or regional conference for a presentation, complete a manuscript, and then submit it for potential publication in a major journal in the field of exercise science.

Comment on how your colleague’s actions are biblically and morally wrong and identify all of the consequences that his dishonest actions may yield. Provide and explain  scripture (ie. Proverbs 11) that indicates why your colleague’s potential actions are dishonest. Suggest to your colleague what he should do with his research results and indicate how this could help his academic and vocational career as well as to whom he represents (ie. university affiliation, etc.).

From a statistical perspective, discuss why it is important that he does not change his data and, instead, present the data in the manner as to which it was originally and honestly assessed. If he altered the results that caused a “level of significance” issue, explain to him how this could be problematic if he did not use the appropriate level of significance (ie. alpha level) when he analyzed his collected data.