Measurement in Exercise Science

Introduction

This chapter gives an overview of the measurement process. After discussing definitions in measurement, the author discusses important issues in measurement and describes how measurement is used in exercise science. In particular, the problems of reliability and validity of measurement are addressed. Also covered in this chapter are the history of measurement, the question of how one becomes a measurement specialist in exercise science, the training involved, and the employment opportunities available.

Chapter Objectives

After studying this chapter, students will be able to do the following:

1. Describe how measurement is used in exercise science.
2. List the four levels of measurement and give an example of each.
3. Describe the three domains of human experience and be familiar with a taxonomy for each.
4. Outline the history of measurement in exercise science from 1776 to present.
5. Describe how to construct and administer a written exam.
6. Discuss the characteristics of a good physical fitness or sports skills test.
7. Explain why exercise scientists are interested in measurement in the affective domain.
8. Define reliability and validity and explain why these two concepts are critically important to the exercise scientist.
9. List and describe the three types of validity.
10. Be familiar with the training required to be a measurement specialist.
11. Be familiar with employment opportunities and responsibilities for a measurement specialist in exercise science.
12. List journals that publish research in measurement related to sport and exercise.

Study Questions

1. List seven ways exercise scientists use measurement, and give an example of each.
2. Differentiate between measurement and evaluation.
3. Name four levels of measurement and the characteristics of each level.
4. Describe the three domains of human experience. Explain why knowledge of the taxonomies for each domain is important to exercise scientists.
5. Outline the progress made in the field of measurement in the exercise science from 1776 to the present.
6. List the five requirements of a good test constructor.
7. Describe the five steps in planning a written test.
8. Discuss the guidelines for constructing a test of your own as outlined by Hensely.
9. List the types of characteristics in the psychological domain that are typically assessed by exercise scientists.
10. Discuss the importance of validity and reliability in the measurement process.
11. Explain how reliability can be assessed.
12. Explain how the validity of a test can be determined.
13. Define and explain the difference among construct validity, content validity, and criterion-related validity.
14. What is the purpose of statistics in exercise science?
15. Describe a typical day in the life of a measurement specialist who works in a college or university setting.
16. List possible employment settings for an individual interested in measurement.
17. List five journals that publish research in the area of measurement.

Student Activities

1. Have students find an article in two different journals that publish research in the field of measurement. Students should write an abstract of each article and explain how the issues of reliability and validity were addressed in each study.
2. In small groups, have students choose an objective for this course and discuss how they could show that an individual had achieved each level in the taxonomy of the cognitive domain for that objective. Share ideas with the class.
3. If possible, students should become involved in some way with a research study in exercise science (observing, volunteering as a research subject, etc.). Students should turn in a report outlining the involvement of a measurement specialist in each phase of the study; that is, planning the study, data collection, analyzing, and presenting results.

Quizzes