ABSTRACT
The Exercise Scientist needs to effectively utilize techniques and equipment to derive data which can clearly inform decision making. Attempting to collect precise or error free data is a fundamental requirement in this process. We can minimize error by learning from previous published studies and by utilizing experiential information. This chapter will guide the reader through some of the key stages necessary to collect ‘clean data’; a process which often leads to enhanced understanding and interpretation in the later stages of the research process. The chapter will consider the reliability and validity of measurement, and provide examples of problems we may encounter when comparing different techniques or devices. Working examples of how validity and reliability data can be interpreted with explicit focus on the clinical interpretation for the researcher and the practitioner are presented. These processes are discussed in the context of the early phase of research design, and how these concepts can avoid the more costly process of data clean-up at a later stage of an investigation. A number of the techniques and issues raised in this chapter should be an integral part of routine laboratory and clinical practices.
