Active health

Active Health Log Book Research Assignment

Due Day & Time

• Indicated on your course outline (submit online to “Log Book Submission Folder”)

Purpose

• To provide a tool for self-evaluation of health and fitness practices and identify possible areas for

improvement • To practice the development of health and fitness goals • To identify relationships between health and fitness variables • To improve understanding and awareness of personal health and fitness practices and to positively

affect those practices • To gain experience in basic data collection, research, and analysis • To practice writing and referencing skills • To learn basic computer graphing skills

Format

Your assignment is expected to be formal and professional and formatted according to APA style formatting.

• Double spaced • Size 12pt standard font (e.g., Arial, Arial Narrow, Times New Roman), • 1 inch margins on all sides • Full sentences with attention to grammar • Do not use slang or informal language (this includes the use of contractions) • Headings and subheadings separating each section according to APA format (see ‘content’ below) • You must use a computer to complete all aspects of the assignment or it will not be accepted • Single PDF file

Instructions (raw data – not to be included in assignment)

1. Data Collection:

You will record a daily log tracking the following health/fitness variables over four consecutive weeks. Note the assignment due date listed on the course outline to determine when you should start your data collection to complete the log book on time.

Health/Fitness Variables to be recorded. Choose only THREE of the following variables: Physical activity. Record both:

• Duration (time in minutes) • Intensity (see Rating of Perceived Exertion scale in Lec 6 powerpoint slides)

Food servings (number of servings). Record only two of the following food groups:

• Fruit & Vegetables • Dairy • Grains • Meat & Alternatives • Junk food (e.g., candy, chips, ice cream, fast food, etc.) • Other (e.g., a specific food item you are interested in tracking such as coffee or alcohol)

Mood (design your own categories/scale)

• If you prefer, this could be recorded as “stress” or “anxiety” instead Sleep. Record both:

• Number of hours • Quality (design your own scale or use a sleep app)

Other

• You can choose to replace one of the above variables with a different variable of your choosing When choosing which variables to track, consider the following: This is both a self-reflective assignment and research assignment. Choose activities that are of personal interest for either self-discovery or self- improvement. However, a preliminary look into available research on your variables of choice and the relationship between them would be prudent.

2. Goal Setting: Create ONE goal for any of three variables you tracked during the four weeks. You have a choice in your goal setting. You may: Write your goal BEFORE you track your daily physical activity/health patterns. Choose this option if you feel confident that you already know your physical activity/health patterns and would like to set goals to improve upon certain aspects. At the start of the data collection, set a SMART goal for one of your variables. Consult the powerpoint slides and lecture video regarding SMART goals. *note: make sure you understand what a “SMART” goal is!

OR, Write your goal AFTER you track your daily physical activity/health patterns. Choose this option if you are not certain of your current physical activity/health patterns. This option will allow you to create goals based on areas you feel you need to improve upon. At the end of the data collection, set a SMART goal for one of the variables you tracked. Consult the powerpoint slides and lecture video regarding SMART goals. *note: make sure you understand what a “SMART” goal is!

Content (what your log book should contain/look like)

Please follow this outline for your log book. Keep your log book contents in the same order as you see listed under below. Your entire paper should be formatted according to APA format. An additional example has been posted for you online.

Title Page Please include your name and student number, my name listed as the course instructor, the course name, course number and assignment title.

The inside of your log book should include the following main sections separated and identified by section headings as you see below:

Graphs Create the following line graphs for whichever three variables you chose to track: This section should b 1-2 pages per graph and paragraph depending on the size of your graphs Daily Physical Activity

• One graph for duration • One graph for intensity

Daily Food Servings

• One graph with the number of servings for both food groups (use different line colours/styles for each category. Include a legend to show which line represents each food group)

Daily Mood

• One graph of either overall mood for that day or number of highs or lows (whatever makes sense for what you chose to track and your interest)

Daily Sleep

• One graph for number of hours • One graph for quality

Other

• One or two graphs appropriate to the specific variable Immediately after each graph, write a one paragraph description of the general trend you see over the four weeks. For example, did your physical activity go up, down or stay relatively the same over the four weeks? Explain possible reasons for the results (i.e., what was happening in your life during that time- period that might be the cause of your results?).

Relationships Between Variables

This section should be 1 page max

Chose two variables that you think might be related (and whose relationship is of interest to you), and complete the following “mini research paper”. Note, this section will require research and referencing. All references must be peer reviewed journal articles and referenced according to APA formatting. Review of Literature: Review previous literature identifying a relationship between the two variables you chose, and therefore lend support your hypothesis which will follow. For example: “Previous research has demonstrated a relationship between greater physical activity participation and an increase in feelings of well-being (Smith et al., 2001, pg 5)”.

After you’ve reviewed previous research, clearly state a specific hypothesis based on the findings of previous research. For example: “It is hypothesized that there will be a positive relationship between physical activity duration and improved mood.”

This section should be a maximum of one page in length.

Results: This section should be 1 page max Create one scatter plot graph with a trend line. For example: one graph showing the relationship between physical activity duration and mood. Consult the powerpoint slides and lecture video regarding scatterplot graphs.

Interpret the results of your data (i.e., graph). Does there appear to be a relationship between the variables? If so, what is the nature and strength of the relationship?

This section should be a maximum of one page in length including the graph. Discussion: This section should be 1 page max Provide researched rationale as to possible reasons for your results. In other words, using research, explain why the variables might be related. For example: “Research has demonstrated physiological changes such as an increase in serotonin levels after participation in physical activity. Increased serotonin levels are associated with feelings of well-being and happiness (Smith et al., 2001, pg 10)”.

If your results found no relationship, or a weaker than expected relationship, explain possible reasons for the discrepancy.

This section should be approximately one page, up to a maximum of two pages, in length.

Goal Reflection

This section should be 1 page max You had a choice for this section. Depending on whether you set goals before or after your data collection, complete one of the following: If you chose to write your goal at the start of the data collection:

State what your SMART goal was and whether or not you met your goal. Reflect upon the factors of your life which facilitated you meeting your goal and factors which hindered you from meeting your goal. Then, describe possible (and realistic) solutions to overcome any barriers you encountered.

If you chose to write your goals after the data collection:

Set a goal for the variable you would like to improve upon. Describe factors that you think will facilitate you meeting your goal and factors you think might hinder you from meeting your goal. Then, describe possible (and realistic) solutions to overcome any barriers you might encounter

Summary

This section should be ½ page max Summarize your thoughts regarding this activity. Did you learn anything? Did this activity impact other, perhaps unexpected areas of your life? Do not feel badly if you feel this activity did not impact your life. If it didn’t impact your life, why do you think that is?

References

This section should start on a new page.

Provide a references page in APA format. References should include DOI’s and page numbers and must be peer reviewed journal articles unless otherwise approved by your instructor.

Grading

You will not be graded on having met or not met your goals or on whether you feel this assignment impacted your life, but on the quality and depth of your reflections, research, writing, and the specifics of the assignment (i.e., Did you follow the directions for content and format? Are your graphs and interpretation of the graphs correct? Does your assignment look polished and professional? Is your writing and the language you used formal and professional? Were the explanations for your results well researched and appropriately referenced? etc.). A level – Work of Outstanding Quality A+ Reserved for the (usually) one or two exceptional pieces of work that exceed or extend the quality of contributions available in the literature, and in class with respect to all the conditions below. A Indicates there is a very high level of quality throughout every aspect of your work. Work deserving of an A is distinguished in virtually every aspect. It shows the individual or group has gone well beyond what has been provided and has extended the usual ways of thinking and/or performing. Outstanding comprehension of subject and use of existing literature and research. Excellent application of course content and principles. Consistently integrates critical and creative perspectives toward subject material. Shows a very high degree of engagement with the topic. A- Suggests there is generally a high quality throughout your work, no problems of any significance, and evidence of attention given to each criterion. Very good comprehension of subject and use of existing literature and research. Very good application of course content and principles. For the most part,

integrates critical and creative perspectives toward subject material. Shows a high degree of engagement with the topic. B level – Work of Good Quality with no Major Weaknesses B+ Suggests there is generally a good quality throughout your work, few problems of minor significance, and evidence of attention given to each criterion. Good comprehension of subject and use of existing literature and research. Good application of course content and principles. Writing is clear and explicit. Is able on occasion to integrate critical and creative perspectives toward subject material. Shows a fair degree of engagement with the topic. B Suggests there is generally a good quality in aspects of your work, few problems of minor significance. Attention given to most criterion. Good comprehension of subject and use of existing literature and research. Aspects of good application of course content and principles. Is able on occasion to integrate critical and creative perspectives toward subject material. Generally, shows a fair degree of engagement with the topic. B- Suggests there are some aspects of good quality to your work, some problems of minor significance. Attention given to several criterion. Good comprehension of subject and use of existing literature and research. Some aspects of good application of course content and principles. Few examples of integrating critical and creative perspectives toward subject material. A few weaknesses in content, style and/or organization of work. Generally shows a fair degree of engagement with the topic. C (average) level – Adequate Work C- to C+ Suggests there is generally adequate quality to your work, several problems of some significance. Attention given to few criterion. Fair comprehension of subject and use of existing literature and research. Fair application of course content and principles. Some weaknesses in content, style and/or organization of work. Some degree of engagement with the topic. D level – Minimally Adequate Work, Barely at a Passing Level D Suggests there are serious flaws or deficits in understanding of subject material and application of course content and principles. Minimal integration of critical and creative perspectives toward subject material. Serious weaknesses in content, organization and/or style of work. Little engagement with the topic. Assignments that fail to include researched information will receive an automatic D.

F level – Failing Work F Inadequate for successful completion of the course, incomplete (missing sections of the assignment). Assignments containing plagiarised sentences or paragraphs will receive an automatic zero for the entire paper.