LAB 1 EXTENDED ABSTRACT ASSESSMENT
Your extended abstract is structured as follows:
A title page (see course outline – assessment submission for the structure of the title page),
introduction
purpose and hypothesis
methods
results
discussion
conclusion • reference section
Biology
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LAB 1 EXTENDED ABSTRACT ASSESSMENT
Your extended abstract is structured as follows:
A title page (see course outline – assessment submission for the structure of the title page),
introduction
purpose and hypothesis
methods
results
discussion
conclusion • reference section.
Extended abstracts are to be typed in 12-point font (Arial or Times Roman) with 1” margins and double spacing. They should include 1 table and 1 figure (with correct formatting, see guidelines below). Each section can be any length, as long as the entire abstract does not exceed 1,000 words (+/1 10%) of writing (excluding references, figure and table).
GUIDELINES AND STRUCTURE OF EXTENDED ABSTRACTS
General advice
Write with a scientific/formal rather than casual style
Be clear and concise; prior to submitting the report, read your work with an objective/critical eye to see if the sentences actually state what you mean.
Introduction:
Introduce the reader to the problem being studied
Provide background information about important concepts of the lab and/or the key variables which are being measured
Explain important concepts
Provide background as to why your experiment is important, why is it significant
Describe previous findings or studies surrounding the research question in order to provide a rationale for conducting the study and a clear reason for your hypothesis (a reader should be able to predict your hypothesis based on the content and flow of the introduction)
Purpose and Hypothesis:
State the purpose of the lab and your hypothesis. Follow this format: the purpose of this investigation was to:______________. It was hypothesized that___________.
The aim of the lab should be specific to the experiment and what was measured
The hypothesis is an assumption as to what may occur to a given measure in an experiment. It is based on your rationale outlined in the introduction and has a direction i.e. heart rate will increase during the V?O2max test on the cycle ergometer due to withdrawal of parasympathetic drive on the sinoatrial node
The hypothesis is written specifically for a given measure, see the example given two lines above. It has direction i.e increase or decrease.
Methods:
The methodsmust be clearly stated and described in sufficient detail
Participants (who were the people used in the experiment? Gender, age, experience at given activity and number studied)
Describe clearly and concisely how the experiment was conducted (equipment and procedures). Basically, this section is incomplete if it does not give the information necessary for a reader to replicate the study. Do not include information from the lab manual which was there solely to help the experiment run smoothly; e.g., do not state that you connected the clear bor turbing to the participant’s two way valve
Includes the physiological variables measured e.g., V?O2 and V?CO2 were measure with the True One Parvo 2400 Metabolic Cart
Do not list your methods
Describe how the data were analysed and, if appropriate, any statistical analyses
Results:
Report your results, what did you find?
Briefly, logically and clearly state the main results or findings, outline magnitudes and
differences with a direction (i.e., increased, decreased, no change)
All figures and tables are referred to in the text
Prepare tables and/or figures so the data is in a manner which is easy for the reader to interpret. See the examples below and the text which follows for more detailed information. This table and graph below follow the APA format, and this format is to be used in the extended abstracts
Table 1. Selected physiological variables for males and females during endurance-based exercise tests.
Measure
Males (n=31)
Females (n=34)
Cycle test:
V?O2max (L/min)
Power output (W)
HR (beats/min)
Treadmill test:
V?O2max (ml/kg/min)
Velocity at V?O2max (m/s)
Economy at 2.78m/s (ml/kg/min)
HR (beats/min)
3.70 ± 0.66
196 ± 0.48
156 ± 17
53.7 ± 8.9 4.80 ± 0.60
35.2 ± 3.1
155 ± 14
2.59 ± 0.53* 137 ± 31*
161 ± 17
45.6 ± 6.6
3.90 ± 0.50 35.3 ± 4.7
171 ± 14
Values are means ± SD. During the cycling test, absolute maximal oxygen uptake (V?O2max) and power output were lower in females than males (* p < 0.05).
Figure 1. Mean power and absolute peak torque during isokinetic and isotonic knee extension of female sprint athletes
Notes on tables/graphs:
Each table is to have a title, and it is to be clear what the rows and columns of the table represent.
Label graphs inclusive of the axes with units of measure and a legend.
Title of the table or graph needs to explain abbreviations, for example ‘electromyography’ (EMG).
Details directly under the graph can include certain values, for example:
• i.e. Values are means ± SD; n = 31 men and 34 women. Significant difference between men and women (P < 0.01) can be indicated by an asterix, references can also be included (Ramsbottom et al., 2007).
Discussion
Restate the purpose of the experiment and whether or not the hypothesis was supported
The structure of your discussion should match the structure of your results
Discuss the major findings with reference to the actual data (e.g., As indicated by the 63% increase in V?E, the protocol induced increases in the rate of ventilation)
Discuss the mechanisms (why) of your main findings
Examine, interpret and evaluate the results in comparison to previously published findings. Ensure that all statements are well-supported by the results and/or existing studies
Explain any inconsistencies/discrepancies relative to published findings and discuss any assumptions, limitations or potential sources of error
If possible, state the implications of your findings (the ‘so what?’)
Conclusion:
Restate your hypothesis and summarize whether your hypothesis was correct or incorrect. Briefly (in two or three sentences) summarize the results of your data and the main outcomes of the experiment.
References:
Referencing format will follow the APA format
You must include at least two peer-reviewed journal articles. Class notes and the lab manual are not appropriate references.
Examples:
Journal with 1 author:
Ainslie, P. N. (2012). Regional brain blood flow regulation during orthostatic stress: new insights from volumetric brain blood flow measurements. Experimental Physiology, 12, 12471248.
Journal article with 3-5 authors:
Lubans, D. R., Plotnikoff, R. C., Jung, M. E., Eves, N., & Sigal, R. (2012). Testing Mediator Variables in a Resistance Training Intervention for Obese Adults with Type 2 Diabetes. Psychology and Health, 27, 1388-1404.
Textbook:
Heyward, V. H. (2006). Advanced fitness assessment and exercise prescription, 5th Ed. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
- Provides background information on cardio-respiration during staged steady state exercise, specifically what occurs to VO2, VE, Heart rate and Blood Pressure. Outlines why VE, VO2, Heart rate and Systolic Blood Pressure change from rest to steady state exercise.
0
1
2
3
4
Poor
Below average
Somewhat clear introduction and definition of steady state exercise
Outline and description of cardiorespiratory changes from rest to steady state staged exercise i.e such as: VE, HR, VO2, Systolic BP is
somewhat unclear
Does not provide a clear ‘overview’ explanation of why measures change during exercise.
Good
Clear introduction and definition of steady state exercise
Clearly outlines and describes cardiorespiratory changes from rest to steady
state staged exercise i.e such as: VE, HR, VO2, Systolic BP.
Clear ‘overview’ type explanation of why these cardiorespiratory measures change.
Purpose and hypothesis: 2 marks
Clearly outlines the purpose of the lab – include the measures (1 mark)
Clearly states a hypothesis for the lab and a gives physiological reasoning (1 mark) (This needs to be specific)
Methods: 6 marks
Procedures and equipment are written concisely and outlines how the experiment was conducted.
0
1.5
3
4.5
6
Sentence on participants is nonexistent
Outline of how the experiment was conducted (equipment, protocol and procedures) is not clear
No measures are
outlined
Timeline diagram of the experiment is not clear
Procedures and equipment
section is not structured and does not flow
Provides irrelevant information of procedures (e.g.
step by step process of taking blood pressure) and is in a list form
Below average
Sentence on
participants is unclear
Outline of how the experiment was conducted
(equipment, protocol and procedures) could be more clear and concise
Only two measures of the experiment are outlined
Timeline diagram of the experiment is
somewhat accurate
Procedures and equipment section does not flow that well and is somewhat hard to follow
Provides some irrelevant procedural information (e.g. step by step process of taking blood pressure)
and is in a partial list form
Good
Brief statement on
participant recruitment
Describes clearly and concisely how the experiment was conducted
(equipment, protocol
and procedures)
Measures of the experiment are
outlined inclusive of HR, VE, Blood pressure, VO2, VCO2 and RER.
Provides a timeline diagram of the experiment
Procedures and equipment section flows well and can be
easily replicated
No irrelevant procedural information (e.g. step by step process of taking blood pressure) and procedures is NOT in a list form.
Results (6 marks):
Participant characteristics (body mass, height and age) – written succinctly or in APA table (0.5 mark)
Figure 1 – Oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production during rest and all stages of exercise – One participant’s data (3 marks)
X Axis labelled correctly and with units – Power (watts) (0.5 mark)
Y Axis’ labelled correctly VO2, VCO2 (1 mark)
Appropriate title (0.5 mark)
Shape of graph correct (0.5 mark)
Legend correct – (VO2 and VCO2) (0.5 mark)
Table 1 – RER, VE, heart rateand blood pressure during rest and each stage of exercise with watts – average 5 data points of each stage (Mean ± SD) (0.5 marks)
2 marks for brief statements of the main findings/description of the data related to figure 1 and table 1. Should briefly describe the changes (some values and direction) in VO2 and VCO2. In addition, RER, VE, heart rateand blood pressure (magnitude and direction).
Discussion 11 marks:
Restate the purpose and hypothesis of the experiment and whether the hypothesis was supported or not (1 mark)
Discuss the major findings and refer back to the data of the experiment -give specific values/describe trends (2 marks)
• What occurred to VO2, VE, HR, BP from rest and the stages of steady state exercise
Compare your findings to specific values in the literature. What did their experiment consist of? Were your values and results similar or different and why? (1 mark) i.e., did they use older participants, different modality, diseased participants etc
Discuss possible mechanisms of why there are changes changes in VO2, VE, HR,
BP from rest and the stages of steady state exercise (6 marks)
Discuss assumptions of the experiment (1 marks)
Was the participant at steady state throughout the experiemt?
Was diet controlled for?
Conclusion 2 marks:
Restate whether the hypothesis was supported or not - Summarise main findings
Provide final concluding statement of the experiment
References: 1 mark
Correct style of in citation references and reference list at the end
