Data Analysis & Reporting Flashcards
7 cards from real CSCS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Data Analysis & Reporting flashcards as text
A strength coach collects VO2max data from 30 athletes and finds the distribution is negatively skewed. Which measure of central tendency is most appropriate to report?
Answer: Median, because it is resistant to skewed distributions
The median is preferred over the mean when data are skewed because it is not distorted by extreme values on one tail.
Which type of graph is most appropriate for displaying the relationship between training volume (sets × reps) and strength gains across 12 weeks?
Answer: Scatter plot with trend line
A scatter plot with a trend line best illustrates the continuous relationship between two quantitative variables over time.
In athlete monitoring, what does a z-score of +2.5 on a wellness questionnaire indicate?
Answer: The athlete's response is 2.5 standard deviations above their personal mean
In individual athlete monitoring, z-scores are typically calculated relative to each athlete's own historical mean, so +2.5 SD represents an unusually high response.
A coach tracks an athlete's countermovement jump (CMJ) force-time curve. Which variable best represents the athlete's ability to develop force rapidly during the initial push-off phase?
Answer: Rate of force development (RFD) at 0-50 ms
RFD in the early time window (0-50 ms) reflects the neuromuscular ability to develop force quickly, which is critical for reactive and explosive sports actions.
A strength and conditioning report shows an athlete's power output is at the 85th percentile for their sport and age group. What does this mean?
Answer: The athlete outperformed 85% of the comparison group
The 85th percentile means the athlete's score exceeds 85% of individuals in the reference normative group.
When analyzing training load data, the acute:chronic workload ratio (ACWR) is best used to:
Answer: Assess injury risk by comparing recent to habitual training load
ACWR compares the acute (recent week) to chronic (rolling 4-week average) workload, with ratios >1.5 associated with elevated injury risk.
A CSCS practitioner wants to determine if an athlete's sprint time improvement after training is statistically significant. With n=1 (single case), the most appropriate analytical approach is:
Answer: Single-subject design comparing pre/post measurements relative to trial-to-trial variability
Single-subject analysis evaluates whether the change exceeds within-subject variability (noise), making it appropriate when group comparisons are impossible.