Research

As kinesiology is a newer field, there are many questions left unasked and unanswered, and students have a chance to fill real gaps in global scientific knowledge. Starting their first semester Drake Kinesiology majors are asking new questions, designing experiments, and collecting data... just like scientists in the real world. Many go on to present their findings at scientific meetings or in scholarly publications.

In Drake’s Kinesiology curriculum, labs are spent asking critical questions and figuring out creative solutions to authentic issues faced in today’s active society. At Drake, research is not a prescribed answer in a workbook, but a dynamic process that mirrors the cyclical nature of science: looking at what scientific data exists, asking a question, forming a hypothesis, establishing a method, collecting data, and sharing the results with the global community through posters, presentations, and publications.

The following are examples of research recently published by Drake Kinesiology students:



Somatosensory perception of running shoe mass is similar for both sexes

Maximum Vertical Jump Height Improves after Two Miles of Running

The Effects of Footwear On Force Production During Barbell Back Squats

The Effects of Ankle Appliances on Lower Body Joint Angles in the Sagittal Plane during the Back Squat?

A Field Study of Low-Top vs. Mid-Top vs. High-Top American Football Cleats

Somatosensory perception of running shoe mass

Running Shoe Mass: Can Feet Tell Any Difference? 

Does the Number of Spikes in the Baseball Cleat Forefoot Impact on Performance or Perception of Traction? 

Foot Temperature During Thirty Minutes of Treadmill Running in Cotton-Based Versus Olefin-Based Athletic Socks

Physiological Versus Perceived Foot Temperature, and Perceived Comfort, During Treadmill Running in Shoes and Socks of Various Constructions 

Ankle Spatting Compared to Bracing or Taping During Maximal-Effort Sprint Drills

Physiological, Psychological, and Performance Differences Between Wii fitness Gaming and Traditional Gym Exercises

Kinesiology students also have the opportunity to present personal research at the annual Drake University Conference on Undergraduate Research in the Sciences (DUCURS) as well as regional and national meetings.

You will also have the opportunity to participate in the Drake University Science Collaborative Institute (DUSCI), an on-campus network of faculty and research students.