Transcript Power Point: Big

Biometrics & Research
Methods
Tabitha Martel
November 28th, 2007
Research Problem
Big-orexia
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These days there is a race to become
bigger-stronger-faster than the next
person.
Big-orexia, officially muscle
dismorphia, and a form of Body
Dismorphic Disorder (BDD) can be
called a form of an obsessive disorder.
It is, in a way, the opposite of
Anorexia Nervosa. (TLC, The Man
Whose Arms Exploded)
These extremes are often achieved by
means of illegal performance
enhancing drugs, for example, Human
Growth Hormone.
What are often overlooked, after the
physical side effects, are the mental
and emotional side effects of
performance enhancers.
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Illegal performance enhancing drug
use is a health problem as athletes are
using these drugs and hiding their
presence in their blood and urine.
They are misusing and over using
drugs and are seeing the
consequences of such an action.
Athletes and sports entertainers are
suffering from severe anger, and
mental anguish that can be related to
the use of these illegal substances.
Formal Hypothesis:
–
Illegal performance enhancing drugs have a
negative effect on the mental state of
athletes and sports entertainers who use such
substances
.
Population of Interest
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The population of interest for this research problem is
the population of athletes and sports entertainers
including, but not limited to, professional level athletes
(NBA. MLB, NHL etc.) as well as collegiate level athletes
and sports entertainers such as professional wrestlers
(WWE, TNA, etc). Compared to the general population,
this population is elite and primarily male.
The sample will be selected via random sampling from
volunteers who already use with a promise to keep
identities anonymous to avoid punishment by law.
Variables
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The independent variable of this research
problem is the use of performance enhancers.
– This is nominal data as either the athlete is using or
they are not
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The dependent variable is the mental state of
the users.
– This is ordinal data as it is a self-assessment based
on a questionnaire with a scaled response from 1-10
with definitions for 1, 5, and 10.
Confounding Variables
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Confounding Variables
– Pre-existing mental state
– Hereditary conditions
– Different athletic experiences/sports
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The confounding variables will attempted to be
controlled for by means of screening and
interviewing both volunteers as well as friends
and family about pre-existing conditions and by
attempting to gain access to limited medical
records. Also, comparisons will be made to
athletes under going similar outside stress, and
experience.
Intervention Strategy
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This problem requires a quantitative approach. The intervention is
interested in measurable data as athletes are either using or they
are not using.
There will be two groups. One is an anonymous group of illegal
performance enhancer drug users as well as an anonymous group
of “clean” athletes and entertainers (from comparable or identical
sports).
Results from survey, discovery of medical treatment for mental
conditions such as severe anger and/or depression, will be
compared to the non-using group as well as information gathered
about the athletes before suspected drug use from families and
athletes.
The ethical problems that arise with this intervention involve the
legal ramifications of disclosing the use of drugs and performance
enhancers. Users are hesitant to volunteer as the use is illegal and
there are severe consequences.
References
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The man whose arms exploded [Television
broadcast]. (2007, November 23). Silver
Spring, MD: The Learning Channel.