6.2 study design

specificity

fitness tests must be relevant to the activity undertaken - they should mimic the movement patterns and energy systems used in that activity.

accuracy

precision of measurement

specificity

fitness tests must be relevant to the activity undertaken - they should mimic the movement patterns and energy systems used in that activity.

accuracy

precision of measurement

reliability

degree to which repeated measurements give the same results

validity

the extent to which a test measures what it aims to measure

causality

the relationship between cause and effect, indicating that changes in one variable directly result in changes in another.

control groups

those not receiving any treatment or may receive a placebo

placebo

a harmless substance that will not effect performance but subjects will be unsure whether they received the treatment or not

blind test

subjects do not know if they received treatment

double blind test

neither subjects nor experimenters know who gets treatment

randomisation

subjects are selected for either control or experimental groups by random selection

Physical activity readiness questionnaire (PAR-Q)

A self-screening tool used to determine if individuals are ready to engage in physical activity and to identify any potential health risks.

laboratory test advantages

• controlled environment

• sport specific equipment

• simulate sports demands

lab test disadvantages

• not always accessable

• often expensive and require sophisticated equipment

• limited value assessing team sports

• not conducted in sport environment

• require qualified personnel

• time consuming

field test advantages

• specific to the sport

• often inexpensive equipment

• simple to administer

• allow for simultaneous testing of large groups

• conducted in sporting environment

field test disadvantages

• environment can alter test results

• less accurate than lab tests

• much planning in testing administration

sub-max tests advantages

prevents injury or over exertion

sub-max tests disadvantages

• depends on extrapolation

• small measurement inaccuracies can result in large discrepancies

maximal test advantages

measurements can be more accurate

maximal test disadvantages

• risk of injury or over exertion

• difficult to ensure athlete is working at their max

• effort depends on athletes motivation