Chapter 12–principles of test selection and administration

Question 1

What are the reasons for testing?

Answer 1

• assess athletic talent
• identify physical abilities in need of improvement
• set goals
• evaluate progress over time (performed multiple times to see trends and if training is working)

Question 2

How do coaches assess athletic talent through testing?

Answer 2

• see areas of need of improvement
• allows coach to set goals for the team
• provides way to determine if candidate has basic physical abilities
• see competitiveness of the player

Question 3

What is a test?

Answer 3

a procedure for assessing ability in a particular endeavor
- typically done in lab

Question 4

What is a field test?

Answer 4

a test used to assess ability that is performed away from the laboratory and does not require extensive training or expensive equipment
- a lot more expensive & saves time

Question 5

What is a measurement?

Answer 5

the process of collecting test data

Question 6

What is evaluation?

Answer 6

the process of analyzing test results for the purpose of making decisions

Question 7

What is a mid test?

Answer 7

a test administered one or more times during the training period to assess progress & modify the program as needed to maximize benefit

Question 8

What is a formative evaluation?

Answer 8

periodic reevaluation based on mid tests administered during the training, usually at regular intervals

Question 9

What is a posttest?

Answer 9

a test administered after the training period to determine the success of the training program in achieving the training objectives

Question 10

What is validity?

Answer 10

• the degree to which a test or test item measures what it is supposed to measure
• One of the most important characteristics of testing!!!

Question 11

What is construct validity?

Answer 11

the ability of a test to represent the underlying construct (the theory developed to organize and explain some aspects of existing knowledge and observations)

Question 12

What is face validity?

Answer 12

the appearance to the athlete and other casual observers that the test measures what it is purported to measure

Question 13

What is content validity?

Answer 13

the assessment by experts that the test covers all relevant subtopics or component abilities in appropriate proportions
- making sure the testing battery designed contains everything you need

Question 14

What is criterion-referenced validity?

Answer 14

The extent to which test scores are associated with some other measure of the same ability
**gold standard

Question 15

What is concurrent validity?

Answer 15

the extent to which test scores are associated with those of other accepted tests measuring the same ability
**doesn’t necessarily have to be to the gold test

Question 16

What is predictive validity?

Answer 16

The extent to which the test score corresponds with the future performance or behavior
- Very good for determining who should be on the team

Question 17

What is discrimination validity?

Answer 17

the ability of a test to distinguish between 2 different constructs (or strengths)
- EX: strength v. power, or endurance v. power

Question 18

What is reliability
?

Answer 18

• measure of the degree of consistency/repeatability of a test
• may differ between groups based on differences in physical emotional maturity and skill level (EX: hard to run tests with middle school boys and get them to do it accurately
• a test must be reliable to be valid, because highly variable results have little meaning

Question 19

What can measurement error arise from?

Answer 19

1. intrasubject (within subjects) variability EX: athletes not sleeping/eating
2. Lack of interpreter (between raters) reliability or agreement EX: timers using different types of timers)
3. Intrarater (within raters) variability EX: the coach/rater letting the athlete put their toe over the line
4. Failure of the test itself to provide consistent results EX: the test just isn’t good enough

Question 20

What is intrasubject variability?

Answer 20

the lack of consistent performance by the person tested

Question 21

What is interrater reliability?

Answer 21

the degree to which different raters agree
- AKA objectivity or interrater agreement

Question 22

What is intrarater variability?

Answer 22

the lack of consistent scores by a given tester

Question 23

What are variables to think about during test selection?

Answer 23

• metabolic energy system specificity
• biomechanical movement pattern specificity
• injury
• Experience and training status (do not want to do a test they can not perform)
• age and sex (not smart to have young kids run a lot — not fun and not as much experience)
• environmental factors (high temps/humidity, and can reduce validity)

Question 24

What is metabolic energy system specificity in test selection?

Answer 24

consider the energy demands (phosphates, glycolytic, and oxidative) of the sport when choosing or designing tests

Question 25

What is biomechanic movement pattern specificity when choosing testing batteries?

Answer 25

the more similar the test is to an important movement in the sport, the better

Question 26

What is the main thing a needs analysis needs to consider?

Answer 26

specificity of the sport

Question 27

Why is age important to think about for tests?

Answer 27

• if younger they need to be able to do the test properly
• younger athletes will typically do worse then older athletes

Question 28

How long does it take to acclimate to altitude, and how does it affect VO2 max?

Answer 28

• need a 10 day acclimatization period
• 5% reduction in VO2 max for every 3,000 feat

Question 29

What temperature and humidity impairs aerobic performance?

Answer 29

• 80 degrees and greater
• 50% humidity and higher

Question 30

What types of tests/energy systems

Answer 30

• aerobic endurance tests
• oxidative system

Question 31

What can you do to increase validity?

Answer 31

try to standardize test (have sleep/fuel protocol, do tests inside to minimize weather, do tests at same time of day)

Question 32

What are some health and safety considerations for testing?

Answer 32

• high heat
• be observant of signs and symptoms and health
• ideally have AT on sight during testing
• be observant of health status of athletes before, during, and after maximal exertions
• very smart to have some form of conditioning before the tests (baseline fitness established)
• try to avoid testing during high heat and humidity

Question 33

Read slides on aerobic endurance testing in the heat (slides 21-24)

Question 35

How much water weight is too much to loose during testing? (i forget the wording of her phrase)

Answer 35

2% (if they loose more than this go see AT and heavily hydrate)
- smart to weigh before and after

Question 36

What is hyponatremia & its symptoms?

Answer 36

• drinking too much water and electrolytes get diluted
• extreamly diluted urine, bloated skin, etc
• AKA water intoxication

Question 37

How should testers and training be selected?

Answer 37

• provide testers with practice and training
• ensure sonsistency

Question 38

When should recording forms be secured?

Answer 38

ahead of time to increase efficiency and reduce recording errors

Question 39

How should the test format be chosen?

Answer 39

• consider whether athletes will be tested all at once or in groups
• the same tester should administer a given test to all athletes if possible
• each tester should administer one test at a time

Question 40

How many trials should testing batteries include?

Answer 40

• duplicate test setup can be used for large groups
• allow at least 2 mins of rest between attempts tat are not close to the athlete’s maximum
• allow 3 mins between attempts that are close to maximum
• allow at least 5 mins between test batteries

Question 41

What should the sequence of tests be? — KNOW!

Answer 41

1. nonfatiguing tests (EX: BP, body mass, broad jump, vert. jump)
2. agility tests
3. max power and strength tests
4. sprint tests
5. local muscular endurance tests
6. fatiguing anaerobic capacity tests
7. aerobic capacity tests (most fatiguing —might should be on own day)
   ** the order of test should be where the completion of one test does NOT adversely affect performance in subsequent tests

Question 42

How do you prepare athletes for testing?

Answer 42

• announce date, time, and purpose in advance
• host a pretest practice session
• provide clear and simple instructions
• demonstrate proper test performance
• organize a pretest warmup
• tell athletes their test scores after each trial
• administer a supervised cool-down period