CHAPTER 12
Sample Answers for Chapter Discussion Questions
Question #1
Diagnosis: to identify deficiencies or weaknesses in the subjects
Placement: initial tests used in circumstances where it would be beneficial to group individuals
on the basis of their skill level or ability
Prediction: the prediction of future events or results with varying degrees of success
Motivation: measurement and evaluation process provides challenge and stimulation
Achievement: establishes a set of objectives that accurately and objectively measure
achievement
Program evaluation: allows superiors to determine whether or not a particular program has
successfully achieved its objectives
Question #2
Norms are referenced standards that act as a tool for comparing athletes with others, to make
evaluative decisions. Results are compared to norm-referenced standards that have been
established after numerous previous trials, and you are able to obtain results that reflect your
level of achievement relative to a clearly defined subgroup. A major benefit of using norms is
that individuals can be effectively compared on a particular task with others who share important
characteristics such as age and gender. Norms can also provide talent identification information
and provide you with an indication of where improvements need to be made and where most of
your efforts should be directed during training. They give you a starting reference point from
which your performances can be compared.
Question #3
Reliability refers to the consistency or repeatability of test scores, data, or observations. A test is
reliable if measurements are the same each time the test is administered to the same individual.
Validity is the degree of truthfulness of a test score, referring to the extent to which a test
measures what it proposes to measure. Both reliability and validity must be present if results are
to be accurate and meaningful. A test can sometimes be valid in one circumstance but not in
another, or reliable but not valid. For example, although total body weight is a reliable measure
from day to day, it is not a valid measure of body fatness since the body is composed of tissues
other than fat.
Question #4
Laboratory tests are extremely accurate, but they are also rigorous, are time consuming, and
often require expensive equipment such as gas analyzers, ergometers, and computerized
metabolic systems. An example of a lab test is a maximal exercise test on an ergometer. Field
tests are simpler and more practical since they take place in the athletic environment. Thus, they
take on a more real-life approach. The athlete can feel more comfortable performing tests in the
field. The accuracy of field tests may not be as high as lab tests since they are harder to control.
An example of a field test is the 12-minute run–walk test.
Question #5
The most common sites used to measure skinfolds are at the abdomen, suprailium (crest of the
hip bone), triceps, and thigh. Skinfold measurements measure subcutaneous fat, whereas girth
measurements measure the circumference of body parts. The methods have different
measurement sites.
Question #6
The grip dynamometer test can be used as an alternative to the one repetition maximum test to
assess maximal strength. This isometric strength test measures the grip strength of the hand, but
has correlated well with total body strength. The subject takes in a breath, and while exhaling,
squeezes the device maximally to obtain a reading.
Question #7
One possibility is muscular endurance:
YMCA 1-minute sit-ups test: This test requires subjects to perform the maximum number of situps possible in 1 minute. The test should be performed with bent knees, the feet flat on the
ground shoulder-width apart, and the fingers behind the head. The sit-ups are performed to
alternate sides. This measures trunk endurance.
Pull-ups: This test requires a horizontal bar that is high enough from the ground that the tallest
subject cannot reach the ground with his or her feet. An overhand grip must be used. The test
begins with the subject maintaining a straight arm hang. The subject’s task is simply to pull
himself or herself upward until the chin is above the bar; after each chin-up, the subject is to
return to the starting position. This sequence is repeated as many times as possible to test
muscular endurance of the arms and the shoulder girdle.
Question Bank for Written Student Assessment and
Evaluation
Quiz: How Much Do You Know About Fitness Evaluation?
1. In order to effectively gather, sort, analyze, and evaluate relevant information before making a
decision, you must determine whether that information is:
A) reliable
B) valid
C) objective
D) all of the above
E) two of the above
Answer: D
2. When it is beneficial to group individuals on the basis of their skill level or ability, tests may
be done for the purpose of _________. Answer: placement
3. A personality inventory is an example of a test that diagnoses human performance. Answer:
false (Correct: predicts)
4. What is the first major consideration when making an evaluation?
A) the number of people being evaluated
B) the resources available for the evaluation
C) the data available for comparisons
D) the proper choice of instrument
E) the experience of the evaluators
Answer: D
5. _________ refers to the consistency or repeatability of test scores, data, or observations.
Answer: Reliability
6. Reliability or validity must be present for results to be accurate and meaningful. Answer: false
(Correct: and)
7. Which of the following statements about cardiorespiratory endurance is false:
A) It is a key component of physical fitness.
B) It reflects an individual’s aerobic capacity.
C) It is the ability to supply oxygen to working muscles during physical exertion.
D) It can be estimated from heart rate response.
E) None of the above.
Answer: E
8. Step tests involve stepping up and down steps of a certain height at a particular _________ for
an established period of time. Answer: rate
9. True measures of body composition involve the estimation of an individual’s body fat
percentage, requiring the determination of body density. Answer: true
10. Which of the following statements about strength is true:
A) Laboratory tests must be used to assess muscular strength.
B) Strength is an important factor in human performance.
C) Strength is the maximum force a muscle can generate during prolonged contraction.
D) There is a minor relationship between muscular strength and muscular endurance.
E) Two of the above.
Answer: B
11. Stan can lift 165 pounds and Jose can lift 210 pounds. Jose has higher _________ strength.
Answer: absolute
12. The factor that distinguishes the concepts of strength and power is time. Answer: true
13. Which of the following is not a test of muscular endurance:
A) YMCA 1-minute sit-ups test
B) flexed arm hang
C) AAHPERD shuttle run
D) push-ups test
E) continuous burpee test
Answer: C
14. Flexibility tends to be ________ specific. Answer: joint
15. The AAHPERD shuttle run is a measure of cardiorespiratory fitness. Answer: false
(Correct: agility)
16. What are the benefits of using norms? Answer: Norms can serve many purposes. A major
benefit of using norms is that individuals can be effectively compared on a specific task with
others who share important characteristics such as age and sex. For an athlete or coach who is
interested in athletic talent identification, norms can provide him or her with an indication of
whose performance is above average, and who is perhaps better suited for a different activity.
Norms can also provide you with an indication of where improvements need to be made and
where most of your efforts should be directed during training. They give you a starting reference
point from which your performances can be compared.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of the following is not a reason for measurement and evaluation:
A) diagnosis
B) motivation
C) prediction
D) placement
E) none of the above
Answer: E
2. The measurement process that indicates how an individual has fared at a particular task is:
A) diagnosis
B) performance
C) achievement
D) prognosis
E) placement
Answer: C
3. Which of the following is not a benefit of using norms:
A) Individuals can be compared on a specific task with others who share important
characteristics.
B) Norms can provide an indication of where improvements need to be made.
C) Coaches can use norms to evaluate players when picking teams.
D) Norms provide a starting reference point.
E) None of the above.
Answer: E
4. Which of the following statements is false:
A) A test can be valid in one circumstance but not in another.
B) Reliability is the degree of truthfulness of a test score.
C) A test can be reliable but not valid.
D) A test can be valid but not reliable.
E) Two of the above.
Answer: E (B and D)
5. Wally the wrestler closely monitored his weight on his bathroom scale before Saturday’s
competition. Every day that week he had weighed 2 pounds below the cutoff for his weight class.
At the official weigh-in on Saturday morning, Wally found out that he was 10 pounds above the
cut-off. What does this tell you about Wally’s bathroom scale?
A) It is reliable but not valid.
B) It is valid but not reliable.
C) It is both valid and reliable.
D) It is neither valid nor reliable.
E) There is not enough information to make a judgment.
Answer: A
6. The most accurate and reliable measure of cardiorespiratory function is:
A) maximal oxygen consumption
B) 2,400-meter endurance run
C) VO2max
D) YMCA 3-minute step test
E) both A and C
Answer: E
7. Which of the following statements about the YMCA 3-minute step test is false:
A) It is ideal for testing large groups of people, especially for initial testing of unfit subjects.
B) Heart rate is recorded for 15 seconds after the test and multiplied by 4.
C) The test requires a bench, a metronome, and a timer.
D) The subjects follow an “up–up, down–down” pattern.
E) None of the above.
Answer: B
8. The measurement sites for the YMCA skinfold test are:
A) thigh, biceps, abdomen, and suprailium
B) suprailium, triceps, abdomen, and scapula
C) abdomen, suprailium, triceps, and thigh
D) scapula, abdomen, calf, and biceps
E) biceps, calf, abdomen, and suprailium
Answer: C
9. Which of the following is not a correct step when measuring 1RM:
A) Have subjects warm up with stretching and light lifting.
B) Have subjects perform a lift below the maximum.
C) Have subjects rest at least two minutes between lifts to prevent fatigue.
D) Increase weight on subsequent lifts by small increments (5 or 10 kg).
E) None of the above.
Answer: D
10. Which of the following tests measures muscular power:
A) push-ups test
B) Sargent test
C) burpee test
D) bridge-up test
E) none of the above
Answer: B
11. The key to a successful standing long jump is:
A) beginning from a crouch position
B) leaning the trunk slightly forward at takeoff
C) driving the legs forward at takeoff
D) forcefully swinging the arms upward just after takeoff
E) coordinating all parts of the body during the jump
Answer: E
12. The sit-and-reach test:
A) assesses trunk flexibility
B) assesses hamstring flexibility
C) is satisfactory for both males and females age five and above
D) averages the results of two trials to achieve a final score
E) all of the above
Answer: E
13. In the hamstring looseness test, “knuckles touch the floor” is considered:
A) superior
B) excellent
C) above average
D) average
E) below average
Answer: C
14. The burpee test is a measure of:
A) muscular strength
B) agility
C) trunk flexibility
D) general flexibility
E) cardiorespiratory fitness
Answer: B
15. The hexagonal obstacle test is designed to assess:
A) agility
B) coordination
C) balance
D) all of the above
E) two of the above
Answer: D
Fill in the Blank Questions
1. Once a test has been administered, the results may be evaluated to identify deficiencies or
weaknesses in the subjects – in other words, to make a _________. Answer: diagnosis
2. Most individuals need the proper _________ if they are to put forth their full effort.
Answer: motivation
3. Norm-referenced _________ are often used to reflect level of achievement. Answer:
standards
4. _________ is the degree of truthfulness of a test score, referring to the extent to which a test
measures what it proposes to measure. Answer: Validity
5. VO2max is a measure of the amount of oxygen consumed per kilogram of body weight per
_________ of exercise. Answer: minute
6 . The _________-minute run–walk test is a popular test for assessing cardiorespiratory
function. Answer: 12
7. Skinfold tests involve measuring skinfolds at particular sites on the body with skinfold
_________. Answer: calipers
8. Obesity is characterized by large abdominal and hip girths in relation to _________
circumference. Answer: chest
9. The maximal feasible number of repetitions of a particular load is referred to as the
_________. Answer: repetition maximum
10. The total body _________ test measures trunk flexibility. Answer: rotation
11. The physical ability that enables rapid and precise change of body position and direction is
known as _________. Answer: agility
True or False Questions
1. Running tests and step tests are two examples of laboratory tests. Answer: false (Correct:
field tests)
2. With increasing competition for funds and resources, program evaluation is becoming more
useful. Answer: true
3. Reliability is the degree of truthfulness of a test score. Answer: false (Correct: Validity)
4. Push-ups are a valid measure of upper-body strength. Answer: true
5. VO2max can be calculated from measurements of submaximal exercise performance. Answer:
true
6. Most schools use laboratory tests to measure cardiorespiratory function. Answer: false
(Correct: field tests)
7. The Queens College step test uses a bench height of 16-17 inches. Answer: true
8. Skinfold tests are very popular for measuring body fat percentage. They require little practice
to obtain reliable and consistent results. Answer: false (Correct: plenty of practice)
9. A lean individual at a fixed body weight will have a higher body density when compared to a
fatter person of the same weight. Answer: true
10. All measures of chest circumference should be taken at the end of an expiration. Answer:
true
11. Grip strength correlates well with total body strength. Answer: true
12. It is necessary to use maximal resistance to determine one repetition maximum. Answer:
false (Correct: is not necessary)
13. For the push-ups test, the nose must touch the mat on each repetition. Answer: false
(Correct: chest)
14. Subjects should not warm up before flexibility testing. Answer: false (Correct: should)
15. The bridge-up test is a measure of trunk extension. Answer: true
Other Types of Questions
1. Match the following terms with their corresponding characteristic. Terms can be matched with
more than one answer.
Term
1. Diagnosis
2. Placement
3. Prediction
Answer
B
E&F
A
4. Motivation
5. Achievement
6. Program evaluation
D
G
C
Characteristic
A. Examples include entrance exams and skinfold tests
B. Used to identify deficiencies and weaknesses
C. Is becoming more useful with increasing competition for
funds and resources
D. Helps individuals put forth their full effort
E. Groups individuals who share certain characteristics
F. Helps instructors make the most efficient use of time and
energy
G. Indicates how an individual has fared in a particular task
2. What is the first consideration when taking measurements? Why?
Answer:
Testing involves careful planning in order to obtain results that are consistent and accurate.
Thus, you must look for accuracy and consistency when making measurements, and the proper
choice of instrument is the first major consideration. It is also necessary that you understand
how to properly use a testing instrument, as well as to have some knowledge about the quality of
the measurements it generates. A test or instrument that fails to demonstrate precision and
reproducibility runs the risk of yielding faulty results.
3. Describe the 12-minute run–walk test.
Answer:
This test is satisfactory for both males and females from junior high school to college. Little
equipment is required – a stopwatch, whistle, and distance markers or a course of specified
distance are all you need to complete the test. The goal of the test is to run or walk (or both)
around the course as many times as possible in 12 minutes following the starting signal from
behind a designated starting line. A spotter assigned to each runner should maintain an accurate
count of each lap completed by the subject until the stop signal is given after 12 minutes. The
runner should keep track of laps as well. The distance covered is calculated by multiplying the
number of laps completed by the distance of each lap (including the incomplete lap).
4. What is the three-step procedure for taking a skinfold measurement?
Answer:
(1) Lift skinfolds two or three times before placing the calipers for a measurement.
(2) Place the calipers below the thumb and fingers and perpendicular to the fold to allow easy
reading of the measurement; completely release the caliper grip before reading the dial 1 to 2
seconds later.
(3) Repeat this procedure three times; the measurements should not vary by more than 1 mm;
use the median value, and allow at least 15 seconds between each measurement.
5. What are the guidelines when testing for 1RM?
Answer:
* Have subjects warm up with stretching and light lifting.
* Have subjects perform a lift below the maximum.
* Have subjects rest at least two minutes between lifts to prevent fatigue.
* Increase weight on subsequent lifts by small increments (5 or 10 pounds).
* Continue procedure until subjects fail to lift a particular weight.
* Record the last weight successfully lifted as the 1RM.
6. Match the following tests with the component of fitness it measures.
Test
1. Queen’s College step test
2. Girth measurements
3. Grip dynamometer
4. Push-ups test
5. Continuous burpee test
6. AAHPERD shuttle run
7. Sergeant jump
8. YMCA 1-minute sit-ups test
Answer
D
F
A
C
C
B
E
C
Component of Fitness
A. Muscular strength
B. Agility
C. Muscular endurance
D. Aerobic capacity
E. Muscular power
F. Body composition
7. Describe the hamstring looseness test.
Answer:
Prior to testing, participants should be properly warmed up to stretch. The participant stands
with the feet approximately hip-width apart. Keeping the knees straight, the participant bends
over at the waist and lets the arms drop toward the ground, pushing the hands as far toward the
floor as the hamstrings will allow. A score is given based on how far the participant can bend,
with “palms touch the floor” representing the highest level of achievement.