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Research on Fitness Testing
- A Lasting Impression: A Pedagogical Perspective on Youth Fitness Testing. Silverman, S., Keating, X., & Phillips, S. (2008). Measurement in Physical Education & Exercise Science, 12(3), 146-166: "This article addresses ways in which fitness tests can be used positively in physical education. The authors take the position throughout the article that fitness tests should be used as formative evaluation to further educational goals."
- Appropriate Uses of Fitness Measurement. NASPE Position Statement (2010): "NASPE believes that fitness assessment alone will not make students fit. Quality physical education programs that address each of the six national standards serve as the foundation for improving personal health. Fitness will improve through sound instructional practices and providing students with the knowledge and skills they need to be physically active for a lifetime."
- Development of New Criterion-Referenced Fitness Standards in the FITNESSGRAM Program: Rationale and Conceptual Overview. Welk, G., Going, S., Morrow, J., & Meredith, M. (2011). American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 41(4), S63-S67: "The papers in this supplement summarize the process and evidence used to establish new FITNESSGRAM standards. A brief history of fitness testing and fitness standards provides valuable context for the transition to (and importance of) health-related standards. This is followed by brief descriptions of the individual papers."
- Practical Guidelines for Valid and Reliable Youth Fitness Testing. Mahar, M., & Rowe, D. (2008). Measurement in Physical Education & Exercise Science, 12(3), 126-145: "Accurate measures of youth fitness are needed by researchers and practitioners. Evidence of validity and reliability are essential before results of youth fitness tests can be used to make sound decisions. This article describes a three-stage paradigm for validation research and provides guidance for conducting and understanding norm-referenced and criterion-referenced validity and reliability research. Advice is provided on how to administer fitness tests and how to use fitness test results in ways that promote reliability and validity in practice."
- The Responsible Use of Youth Fitness Testing to Enhance Student Motivation, Enjoyment, and Performance. Wiersma, L., & Sherman, C. (2008). Measurement in Physical Education & Exercise Science, 12(3), 167-183: "The purpose of this article is to discuss relevant psychological theories that explain factors related to students' performance on fitness testing, as well as to provide instructional strategies that minimize adverse reactions to fitness testing and that maximize effort, enjoyment, and motivation. Throughout the article, we address the relationship of physical fitness testing to several psychological factors such as perceptions of competence, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, enjoyment, goal orientation, and physical activity promotion."
- Statewide Physical Fitness Testing: A BIG Waist or a BIG Waste. Morrow, J. & Ede, A. (2009). Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 80(4), 696-701: "Statewide physical fitness testing is gaining popularity in the United States because of increased childhood obesity levels, the relations between physical fitness and academic performance, and the hypothesized relations between adult characteristics and childhood physical activity, physical fitness, and health behaviors. Large-scale physical fitness testing can be fraught with problems unless properly planned and conducted. Legislators, administrators, teachers, and parents should consider the following 10 essential issues when conducting large-scale physical fitness testing: purpose of testing, proper planning, training, quality of the data, reporting, support, costs, interpretation, programmatic matters, and policies and politics."
