Test, Measurement and Evaluation in Sports
Domain focus
Test, measurement and evaluation tests whether you can define the three terms, judge test quality and select the right fitness test for a component. Expect short numerical interpretation.
Core concepts
- Test: a procedure or instrument used to obtain information, e.g., a 50 m sprint.
- Measurement: the numerical value obtained, e.g., 7.2 seconds.
- Evaluation: judgement of that value against a standard, e.g., above average for age.
- Quality criteria: validity (measures what it claims), reliability (consistent repeated results), objectivity (same result across testers), and norms.
- Types: standardised vs teacher-made; formative vs summative; norm-referenced vs criterion-referenced.
- Common tests: 50 m sprint (speed), 600 m run/walk (endurance), sit-ups (muscular endurance), sit-and-reach (flexibility), standing broad jump (power), 4 × 10 m shuttle run (agility), BMI (body composition).
Worked example
A student scores 28 cm on the sit-and-reach. The tester repeats the test the next day and gets 21 cm. The problem is reliability, not validity: the test is measuring hamstring/lower-back flexibility, but the scores are inconsistent. Check warm-up, protocol, knee position and the ruler placement before judging the student's flexibility.
Traps
- Calling the 7.2 seconds a test rather than a measurement.
- Using validity and reliability as synonyms.
- Evaluating without a norm or criterion.
- Using a sprint test to judge endurance.