KIN 505 – Mythbusters Presentation Project
Mythbusters Project
 Students will utilize PowerPoint to present research articles that aim to answer questions
about some controversies in the field (see list at end of the assignment).
 Students are to select and review 3 experimental research articles
o These articles need to be original research, not reviews of previous research or position
stands. Reviews and position stands may be helpful for your introduction and conclusion,
however. Reference lists of these reviews can also help you find relevant, original
research.
o Research articles should help to answer a research question related to the “Mythbusters”
topic that you have chosen.
 If possible, find some articles that support and some that refute the topic.
 Of the 3 articles, ideally 2 would support one side and the 3rd would provide a contrary
perspective. Depending on the topic, it may not be possible to find contrary views.
o Although it is advised that the same or similar performance parameters (or health
markers) are used in each study, the three articles do not necessarily have to focus on the
same dependent variables.
o The purpose of this assignment will be to summarize, explain, compare, and contrast
peer-reviewed research articles and present the findings to an audience of your peers.
 This project will proceed in the following 5 stages:
a) 11/5 – Mythbusters Concept Outline & Articles
b) 11/19 – Panopto video of your Mythbusters Presentation due by 5PM
c) 11/23 – Submit Mythbusters Follow-up Study Proposal
d) 12/3 – Mythbusters Study Proposal Peer Reviews
e) 12/3 – Mythbusters Presentation Critiques
a) Mythbusters Concept Outline. The first assignment is a concept outline that will help guide
you as you start reviewing the literature. This outline should help you hone your research
question and refine your search criteria. It will then also provide you with a framework with
which you can organize the articles that you’ve found.
o Details on this assignment will be posted in the Assignment in Canvas.
b) Mythbusters Presentation.
• While I will provide you with a grading rubric & a sample presentation, the PowerPoint
presentation must include the following components:
I. Title slide with your name and topic
II. Scientific background (4-8 min)
 Explain the controversy and clearly state the research theory
• Explain the rationale behind both sides of the argument
• This type of information can typically be found in the introductions of the research articles
(or in a review article)
• Any resources utilized outside of the research articles must be cited in the footnotes of each
slide and listed in an APA formatted bibliography at the end (i.e. textbooks, review
articles, etc.)
 Provide general guidelines / instructions for the exercise, supplement, diet, therapy, etc.
KIN 505 – Mythbusters Presentation Project
III. Synopsis of each study to include the following information (approx. 4 min each)
 Title Slide: Article title, Authors, Journal, & Publication year
 Description of subjects (preferably human, if possible)
 Study design
 Exercise protocol or diet utilized or supplement dosage (if any)
• It is helpful to include an image that summarizes the protocol and discuss it
 Important results
• Primarily those that indicate whether the intervention worked or not (i.e. the study may
mention “group effects” or “group x interaction effects”)
o Baseline differences or time effects generally would not be significant to include in
this type of presentation (i.e. after 4 wks of resistance training, they got stronger
would be an example of a time effect)
o Important results would be something like: While both creatine and placebo groups
got stronger after 4wks of resistance training, the creatine group’s 1RM increase was
25lbs greater than that of the placebo.
o Please include important graphs or portions tables with essential data instead of listing
data in paragraphs or bullet points. (At least 1 is required)
 Author’s conclusion (Does it work???)
IV. Overall conclusion or consensus of the research articles and any personal perceptions
 Summarize the results of the authors’ research, as well as provide any personal insights
 Also mention any controversy or concerns that still remain on the topic
 What should future researchers tackle to help better answer this question?
V. Additional works cited (i.e. review articles, textbook, website, etc.)
 The presentations need not be exhaustive and you do not need to elaborate on every detail of
each study. However, the topic/controversy should be appropriately introduced so that the
audience can understand the underlying theory and rationale of the research problem. You do
not need to elaborate on every detail of each article, but instead highlight the elements that
are most relevant to the controversy. All in all, the presentation should be 15 to 25-minutes.
 Since we will not be conducting live presentations, you should submit your presentation as a
Panopto video by the assigned due date. You may record the entire presentation in Panopto
or you may find it more convenient (like I do) to record your video in Powerpoint and then
covert it in Panopto. Instructions for this process will be included in Canvas.
c) Mythbusters Follow-up Study Proposal. Based on your findings from your project, you
should then develop a follow-up study to help answer any remaining research questions.
Details on this assignment will be posted in Canvas.
d) Peer Reviews. You will have 2 peer reviews for this assignment. One peer review will be
made public and discuss the research study proposals from different students. Another review
will be private where you will use the grading rubric to grade student presentations that
Canvas assigned you to review.
The basic premise of the presentation is to illustrate whether or not, based on science, these
specific interventions proved to be effective or not…
KIN 505 – Mythbusters Presentation Project
Possible Presentation Topics:
Mythbusters Topics
Exercise Topics Presenter
A low intensity of exercise is the best because more fat is used for
energy
I can spot reduce fat on my body with specific exercises
Resistance training makes women look bulky
Physical Education is part of every child’s entitlement to a good
education.
Static stretching reduces risk of injury
Static stretching reduces power output
Static stretching reduces DOMS
Neural gliding stretches improve flexibility & power
Muscle soreness results from a build-up of lactic acid
Exercise performance is lower depending on menstrual cycle
phase
Fiber types are what really makes elite athletes
Training your “core” with a Pilates type program is best for
overall health
HIIT training is best for fat loss
Overspeed training can improve power more than resistance
training
Barefoot running is better than regular shoes
Crossfit does more harm than good
Concurrent strength & endurance training limits power
Health Topics Presenter
I exercise so that I can eat whatever I want
The 2 component model of body composition is just as effective
as the 4 component model
HIIT training is best for fat loss
Cold exposure stimulates fat loss
Vaccines cause autism
Prolonged sitting will kill you
A standing desk will add years to your life
Sleeping after a concussion is bad
You lose 1 lb of fat with a 3500 kcal deficit and need a 2500 kcal
surplus to gain 1 lb muscle
KIN 505 – Mythbusters Presentation Project
Dietary Supplements / Ergogenic Aids Presenter
HMB is a helpful supplement for elderly men
Nitric oxide supplement stimulates muscle growth
Anabolic steroids are safe and effective and should be allowed
Omega-3 fatty acids reduce muscle damage
Coffee is just as effective as caffeine pills for boosting
performance
Growth hormone help athletes recover from injury and should
be legalized
Cinnamon is a helpful supplement for diabetics
Kinesiotape improves power output
Kinesiotape only has a placebo effect on injury prevention
Compression sleeves improve recovery
Vitamin D or E can help improve endurance performance
Creatine supplementation causes kidney damage
Vitamin C and Zinc supplements will cure the common cold
Training in heavy clothes promotes weight loss
Chocolate milk is an ideal post-workout drink
Nutrition & Diets Presenter
Low carb diets are healthier than low fat diets
High protein diets damage your kidneys
Gluten free foods are healthier
Artificial sweeteners cause cancer
Artificial sweeteners actually make you fat
Goji berries are the new super food
Kale is the healthiest of all vegetables
Soy milk gives men breasts
Chia and hemp seeds are healthy to add to smoothies
High-fructose corn syrup is worse than sugar
Water is just as effective at rehydrating as sports drinks