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Program Overview

Knowledge Basis and Theoretical Foundation of Kinesmetrics

Measurement Theory:

Any well-developed test or measure is based on a measurement theory model. The procedures for estimating the key characteristics of the test or measure, such as validity and reliability, are dictated by the model. Each model has a unique set of assumptions and is based on a statistical or mathematical model. The science of developing tests and measurement procedures has become highly sophisticated and has developed into a large body of knowledge and understanding. Mathematical and statistical theories that are used to derive these procedures are referred to as measurement theories. Classical test theory and item response theory are two familiar examples of such theories.

Statistical/Mathematical Methods:

The statistical method is one of the mathematical methods, as well as the most important scientific approaches, which are used to assist researchers in describing/ modeling data, drawing inferences to larger bodies of data, and studying causal relationships. According to their purposes, statistical methods can be classified as descriptive or inferential statistics; according to their characteristics, they can also be classified as parametric or nonparametric, univariate or multivariate statistics, etc. ANOVA, correlation, discriminant function analysis, regression, and structural equating modeling are just a few examples of a h

Research design refers to the methods that are developed for the discovery and confirmation of causal relationships among variables. Besides covering the general knowledge of experiments, such as single-factor, factorial, multifactoral, balanced lattice and incompleted-block designs, it includes other important issues or topics involved in designing a study, such as sampling, research procedures, selecting subjects, and principles of analyzing data and reporting results.

Data Characteristics/Measurement Issues in a Subdiscipline:

Kinesiology is a multidisciplinary study of human movements and its major subdisciplines include physical education, exercise science, sports nutrition, physical activity epidemiology, biomechanics, exercise and sports psychology, motor behavior, athletic training, sport history, sport sociology, and sports administration, etc. Data characteristics and measurement issues are often different from one subdicipline to another. For example, many data collected in physical education are clustered in a hierarchical structure and many measures in exercise science experiments are taken repeatedly. To appropriately analyze these data, a good understanding of the nature of these characteristics and issues is needed.

Legal and Ethical Issues of Measurement and Research:

Decisions made, based on a test or measure, and the results of a research study will have a consequence on people's lives. To make sure a test is fairly designed and a research study is conduct ethically, basic knowledge about legal and ethical issues related to measurement and research practice is essential.

Computer/Technology:

Computer and technology have changed our lives, as well as our measurement practices. General knowledge of computer hardware and software, measurement and statistical software are necessary to any Kinesmetricians. A good understanding of the latest technologies and their potential to improve our measurement practices is also essential.

Kinesmetrics Doctoral Program at UIUC

The major emphasis in the Kinesmetrics doctoral program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) is the study of theories underlying measurement, evaluation and statistical models and the extent to which these models can be used in the measurement and evaluation practice in the field of Kinesiology, e.g., assessing motor behaviors and physical activities. Empirical research in measurement and evaluation, statistics, and research design is stressed. Students are expected to become involved in their own scholarly research while they are students in the program. Those who earn a Ph.D. degree will be qualified to continue scholarly research, advise Master's and Doctoral students in the areas of measurement and evaluation, statistics, and research design, as well as teach theory and applied courses in these areas at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

List Classes required in Kinesmetrics Ph.D. Program

Measurement

• Theory (3 units; * required, #strongly recommended) EPSY 520 Counseling Psych Practicum , 1 Unit
• EPSY 595A Theories of Measurement (CTT), 1 Unit*
• EPSY 595B Theories of Measurement (IRT), 1 Unit*
• KIN 401 Measure & Evaluation in Kinesiology, 1 Unit
• KIN 594 Special Topics (Grant Writing), 1 Unit*
• PSYC 506 Psych
• PSYC 509 Psychological Scaling: Multidimensional Methods, 1 Unit #
• PSYC 531 Psychological Measurement in Industry, 1 Unit#
• SP ED 324 Formal Assessment in Special Education#

Statistics (3 units; *required, #strongly recommended)

• CHLH 463 Statistical Techniques in Epidemiological Research, 1 Unit#
• EPSY 480 Educational Statistics, 1 Unit
• EPSY 580 Statistical Inference in Education, 1 Unit#
• EPSY 582 Advanced Statistical Methods in Education, 1 Unit#
• EPSY 584 Multivariate Analysis in Psychology and Education, 1 Unit*
• EPSY 588 Covariance Structure and Factor Models, 1 Unit*
• EPSY 590 Hierarchical Linear Modeling#
• SOC 582 Survey Research Methoids II
• STAT 424 Analysis of Variance, 1 Unit
• STAT 425 Applied Regression and Design, 1 Unit
• STAT 426 Sampling and Categorical Data, 1 Unit#
• STAT 428 Statistical Computing, 1 Unit
• STAT 429 Time Series Analysis, 1 Unit#
• STAT 458 Mathematical Modeling in Life, 1 Unit
• STAT 510 Mathematical Statistics, I, 1 Unit
• STAT 511 Mathematical Statistics, II, 1 Unit
• STAT 525 Current Research in Applied and Computational Statistics, 1 Unit#
• STAT 571 Multivariate Analysis, 1 Unit
• VP 650 Epidemiology, ½ Unit
• VP 524 Biostatistics, 1 Unit

Research

• Design/Methods (2 units; #strongly recommended) CHLH 578 Applied Epidemiology, 1 Unit#
• EPSY 471 Into to Evaluation Methods, 1 Unit
• EPSY 577 Foundation of Qualitative Methods, 1 Unit
• EPSY 583 Single Subject Research Design, 1 Unit#
• KIN 494 Qualitative Research in Education, 1 Unit
• KIN 501 Kinesiology Research Methods, 1 Unit
• LA 564 Methods of Social/Behav. Research in Designed Environments, 1 Unit
• PSYC 332 Research Methods in Social Psychology: Laboratory Method, 1Unit*
• PSYC 333 Research Methods in Social Psychology: Natural Settings, 1 Unit*
• PSYC 435 Mathematical Formulations in Psychological Theory, 1 Unit
• SOC 480 Methods of Field Research, 1 Unit
• SOC 481 Survey Research, I, 1 Unit
• SOC 488 Demographic Methods, 1 Unit
• SOC 582 Survey Research Methods, II, 1 Unit

Computers (#strongly recommended)

• CS 110 Programming Laboratory (Section CP), 1 Unit #
• CS 225 Data Structure and Software Principles, 1 Unit
• CS 300 Data Structure for Noncomputer Majors, 2 hours (1/2 unit)#
• EPSY 457 Computer Use in Education, 3 hours, 1 Unit

General Areas

• CHLH 540 Health Behavior: Theoretical Perspectives, 1 Unit
• KIN 455 Quantitative Analysis of Human Motion, 1 Unit
• KIN 459 Physical Activity and Aging, 3 hours, 1 Unit
• KIN 590 Independent Study
• SHS 593 Special Problems (Research Critics and Grantsmanship), 1 Unit
• SP ED 510 Legal Aspects of Disabilities, 1 Unit

Dissertation (*required)

• KIN 590 Dissertation research, 8 Units*