Section 2 Testing and Evaluation Flashcards
Test:
A procedure for assessing ability in a particular endeavor.
Field Test:
A test used to assess ability that is performed away from the laboratory and does not require extensive training or expensive equipment.
Measurement
The process of collecting test data.
Evaluation
The process of analyzing test results for the purpose of making decisions.
Pretest
A test administered before the beginning of training to determine the athletes initial basic ability levels.
Mid-test
A test administered one or more times during the training period to assess progress and modify the program as needed to maximize benefit.
Formative - Evaluation
Periodic re-evaluation based on mid-tests administered during the training, usually at regular intervals. It enables monitoring of the athletes progress and adjustment of the training program for the athlete’s individual needs.
Post-test
Test administered after the training period to determine the success of the training program in achieving the training objectives.
Validity
Refers to the degree to which a test or item measures what it is supposed to measure, and is the most important characteristic of testing.
Construct Validity
Is the ability of a test to represent the underlying construct (the theory developed to organize and explain some aspects of existing knowledge and observations). Refers to overall validity, or the extent to which the test actually measures what it was designed to measure.
Face Validity
Is the appearance to the athlete and other casual observers that the test measures what it is purported to measure. If a test or test item has face validity, the athlete is more likely to respond to it positively.
Content Validity
Is the assessment by experts that the testing covers all relevant subtopics or component abilities in appropriate proportions.
Criterion-referenced validity
Is the extent to which test scores are associated with some other measure of the same ability. There are three sub-types of this validity: Concurrent, predictive, and discriminant.
Concurrent Validity
Is the extent to which test scores are associated with those of other accepted tests that measure the same ability. Criterion-referenced validity is often estimated statistically.
Convergent Validity
Is evidenced by high positive correlation between results of the test being assessed and those of the recognized measure of the construct (the “gold standard”). This validity is the type of concurrent validity that field tests used by strength and conditioning professionals should exhibit. A test may be preferable to the “gold standard” if it exhibits convergent validity with the standard but is less demanding in terms of time, equipment, expense, or expertise.
Predictive Validity
is the extent to which the test score corresponds with future behavior or performance. This can be measured through comparison of a test score with some measure of success in the sport itself.
Discriminant Validity
Is the ability of a test to distinguish between two different constructs and is evidenced by a low correlation between the results of the test and those of tests of a different construct.
Reliability
Is the measure of the degree of consistency or reputability of a test.
Test-Retest Reliability
Statistical correlation of the scores from the two administrations provides a measure of reliability among tests.
Intra-Subject Variability
Is the lack f consistent performance by the person tested.
Interrater reliability
Is the degree to which different raters agree. A clearly defined scoring system and competent scorer who are trained and experienced with the test are trained and experienced with the test are essential to enhance interrater reliability. Also referred to as objectivity or interrater agreement.
Intrarater Variability
Is the lack of consistent scores by a given tester. For example, a coach eager to see improvement may unintentionally be more lenient on a posttest than on a pretest.
Athletic Performance
the ability to respond effectively to various physical challenges.
Low-speed muscular strength
related to the force a muscle or muscle group can exert in one maximal effort, and it can be quantified by the maximum weight that can be lifted once.
High-speed muscular strength (maximal anaerobic muscular power
related to the ability of muscle tissue to exert high force while contracting at a high speed.
Anaerobic capacity
the maximal rate of energy production by the combined phosphagen and lactic acid energy system for moderate-duration activities.
Local muscular endurance
the ability of certain muscle or muscle groups to perform repeated contraction against a sub-maximal resistance.
Aerobic capacity (aerobic power)
the maximum rate at which an athlete can produce energy through oxidation of energy resources (carbs, fats, and proteins).
Agility
the ability to stop, start, and change the direction of the body or body parts rapidly and in a controlled manner.
Speed
movement distance per unit time, typically quantified as the time taken to cover a fixed distance.
Flexibility
the range of motion about a body joint.
Body composition
usually refers to the relative proportion by weight of fat and lean tissue.
Anthropometry
the science of measurement applied to the human body, generally includes measurements of height, weight, and selected body girths.
Difference score
the difference between an athlete’s score at the beginning and end of a training period or between any two separate testing.
Statistics
the science of collecting, classifying, analyzing and interpreting numerical data.
Descriptive statistics
summarizes or describes a large group of data. Used when all the information about a population is known.
Central tendency
values about which the data tend to cluster.
Mean
the average of the scores (the sum of the scores divided by the number of scores). The most common used measure of central tendency.
Median
the middlemost score when a set of scores is arranged in order of magnitude. With an even number of scores, it is the average of the two middlemost scores.
Mode
The score that occurs with the greatest frequency. If the score appears only once there is none of this.
Variability
The degree of dispersion of scores within a group.
Range
the interval from the lowest to the highest score.
Z score
can be used to express the distance of any individual score in standard deviation units from the mean.
Percentile rank
the percentage of test takers scoring below that individual.
Inferential statistics
allow on to draw general conclusions about a population from information collected in a population sample.
Athletic profile
a group of test results related to sport-specific abilities that are important for quality performance in a sport or sport position.
Standard Deviation
the measure of the variability of a set of scores about the mean.
