Selecting appropriate performance outcome measures in sports biomechanics: a procedural framework

Sports biomechanics researchers and practitioners invest considerable effort in understanding the often complex interactions between athletes' techniques and their performance outcomes. Extensive research and commentary exist on the measurement of technique, including the wide range of technology available and the many diverse forms, structures and domains of the variables quantified. The analytical methods used to understand the interactions between these measures of technique and performance outcomes have also received considerable attention. However, the process of selecting the performance outcome measure rarely receives explicit focus, even though it can bias the conclusions reached for a variety of reasons. We therefore present a seven-step procedural framework to guide the selection or development of appropriate performance outcome measures for sports biomechanics investigations. Three published examples from our previous work, supported by other hypothetical scenarios, illustrate how the framework can be applied from different perspectives and across different sports. The framework will better enable biomechanists to identify, evaluate, and mitigate conceptual and measurement-related biases in established and novel performance measures. Ultimately, it supports the selection of outcome measures that best suit the given question, enhancing the validity and impact of biomechanical investigations designed to support sports performance.