“What the Research States”

It depends” is narrative we use quite often in performance circles when communicating amongst practitioners.  It’s difficult to speak in black and white when human performance resides in shades of gray. We operate in complex environments.   “It depends” should foster additional communication, not end it.  I was reminded of this in a previous tweet a few years back from my friend Stuart McMillan. 

 I couldn’t agree more!  In fact, for me, “What the research states” is used just as commonly as “It depends”.  “What the research states” ...regarding long term athletic development.  “What the research” states about plyometrics.  “What the research states” about sprinting.  “What the research states” about load monitoring....and the list goes on.  Bottom line, this should NOT end the conversation, in FACT it should be the start of it.  AND the burden of “proof” should reside in the individual making the claim.  Here are a few questions to consider: 

• Who said it?  How do they know?

• Why else may it be?

• Is this an apples-to-apples comparison?

• What are the assumptions?

You’d be surprised that many claims of “what the research states” is nothing more than skimming the abstract of a journal article.  Nothing more, nothing less.  Conversely, if you are making the claim, be prepared to answer these questions to the best of your ability.  This involves reading the methods and results section of the research article, not the abstract.  “What the research states”: 1) may not be relevant to your population, 2) may not be good research, and 3) may be making assumptions that are relevant in your environment.  Research provides explanation.  Explanation provides theory.  The best theories provide superior explanation.