1. Cardio-respiratory endurance - aerobic power 2. Strength 3. Muscular Endurance 4. Flexibility 5. Body Composition B. Objectives of Physical Fitness Testing 1. To assess the status of individuals entering a program. 2. To aid in prescribing or limiting activity of certain individuals. 3. To evaluate an individual's progress. 4. To increase individual motivation for entering and adhering to an exercise program. 5. To evaluate the success of a program in achieving its objectives. C. Medical Clearance and Human Rights The subject's human rights are respected - Informed Consent Form. The subject is given a thorough explanation of the purpose of the test, possible risks, benefits, etc.
D. Characteristics of a Good Physical FitnessTest
Measurement error makes the observed value of a measure differ from the true value. 1. Validity - a valid test is one that measures effectively what it is supposed to measure. Compare the test results to a criterion measure or reference standard - there should be a high relationship 2. Reliability - are the results consistent and reproducible? A highly reliable test yields the same or approximately the same scores when administered twice to the same individuals, provided conditions and subjects are essentially the same. Error the deviation of a measurement, observation, or calculation from the truth. Random errors influence the results in a random (statistically unpredictable) manner. They cause the results to spread in both directions (positive and negative) about the true value. If a result is not repeatable --> random errors --> repeat the measurement several times and take the mean There will always be a certain amount of random error - due to a combination technical error and biological variation in performance. Test administration should be rigidly controlled - standard instructions to the subjects, standard practice or warm-up procedures, standard order of test items and recovery times between items, standard environmental temperature and humidity, and standard equipment and equipment calibration procedures. Skills that require a high proficiency of coordination and reaction should be tested before any tests that may cause fatigue and decrease performance.
3. Objectivity the level to which multiple testers agree on the scoring of
tests. To optimize objectivity, it is best to use trained testers, a predetermined scoring system, and if possible, one designated tester. 4. Accuracy - A measure of how close a result is to the true value. The accuracy with which things are measured, or with which differences are perceived, depends first upon the precision of the measuring instruments. All measuring instruments have their limitations. Systematic errors - errors that systematically shift the measurements in one direction away from the true value. They can be caused by instrumentation errors or by the use of incorrect measurement techniques. Systematic errors caused by a measuring instrument can be estimated by comparison with a more accurate and reliable instrument - calibration of instruments. 5. Norms - allow a relative rating or classification of the subject's performance. They describe a persons position in a population. If the only information available about a subject's test performance is the raw score, interpreting it meaningfully can be difficult. A norm describes a subject in relation to a large number of people who have taken the test. Norm charts should be evaluated to determine their quality. The following questions should be asked: a) Were the sampling procedures for the construction of the norms based on a wide distribution of the population? b) Was a large sample size used to construct the norms? c) Are the norms being used for the specific groups for which they were prepared?
Percentile a point or a position on a theoretical scale of 100 divisions such
that a certain fraction of the population of raw scores lies at or below that point. Median the 50th percentile, the score that divides a distribution so that 50% of the scores are above this point and 50% fall below. 6. Economy - consider two factors: a) money costs and b) time required of subjects and testers Other things being reasonably equal (validity, reliability, accuracy), choose a test that meets your objectives and requires little in money and time. Laboratory tests typically require specialized equipment and specialized training for the test administrator. They are usually administered to only one person at a time. Field tests require no expensive equipment and little, if any, specialized training. These tests can be administered to a group of individuals at the same time, and they are usually less precise than laboratory tests.