04 · METHODOLOGY

A small dataset needs stricter honesty.

This is a longitudinal case study of one developing athlete—not a controlled experiment and not a training prescription.

QUESTION

What changed?

I organize the story around observable outcomes: jump height, sprint time, segment speed, and strength.

VARIATION

What might be noise?

Daily readiness, equipment, surface, warm-up, hand timing, and remembered measurements can all shift a result.

CONFOUNDING

What changed together?

Training, maturation, technique, body composition, injury, and rehabilitation overlap, preventing a clean causal conclusion.

VALIDATION

Will it repeat?

The next official races and repeated standardized tests matter more than any single prediction.

01

Keep estimates visible

Use ≈ or ~ and explain their origin.

02

Preserve old observations

The 11.45 PB does not erase the 12.30 first race; together the official marks show change.

03

Do not fill gaps

Missing 30m data stays missing.

04

Separate association from cause

A change point is a hypothesis generator, not proof.