Update #2

Good morning everyone! My name is Brady Hill, if you haven't read my first blog post, I am an AP researcher at Rock Canyon High School. I am currently typing this up in Mrs. Dobos' room, with the aim to update you guys on my project. A lot has happened since I first set up this website in the fall, and we are nearing the final presentation of my project. 

I'm going to split this entry into a couple of parts to cover everything I need to, starting with some context and refresher. 

Context:

My research aims to shed light on the influence of carbon-plated racing shoes, such as the Nike Vaporfly, Nike Dragonfly, and other "supershoes," on the performance of elite athletes competing in Olympic distance events. I have found, however, that the Vaporfly is only opted in for marathon events. So, my project has shifted a lot by going more towards track spikes. 

Gap:

The academic conversation surrounding super shoes is rapidly evolving, yet there remains a gap in understanding the broader implications of these technologies on global athletic competition. My research seeks to fill this void by investigating not only the performance benefits of super shoes but also their accessibility in relation to a country's GDP and their potential to influence the competitive landscape of the Olympics.

Process:

Initially, my methodology centered on analyzing race data from Olympic distance events across multiple years, categorizing athletes' footwear, and correlating performance with economic indicators. However, as I delved deeper into the project, I realized the need for a more nuanced approach to account for confounding variables and ensure the validity of my findings. This led to a shift towards incorporating qualitative data from athlete interviews and expert opinions to supplement my quantitative analysis.

Data Collection:

So far, I've made significant strides in compiling race data from various Olympic Games and categorizing athletes' footwear based on manufacturer and model. I got throught all 3 Olympic years and all the events for both men and women. This was no easy task. Additionally, I've begun exploring economic data to assess the relationship between GDP and access to super shoes in different countries. Below is an example of my data, from 2012 mens.