CPSS Performance Assessment Technologies 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A performance scientist wants to assess the reliability of a new jump testing protocol. Which statistical method is most appropriate for evaluating test-retest reliability?
- Pearson correlation coefficient only
- Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) with coefficient of variation (Correct answer)
- Standard deviation of a single trial
- One-way ANOVA between sessions
Correct answer: Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) with coefficient of variation
ICC combined with coefficient of variation evaluates both relative and absolute reliability, making it the gold standard for test-retest assessment.
Question 2: Which GPS-derived metric best represents the maximum neuromuscular power output during team sport sprinting?
- Total distance covered per session
- Peak speed over a rolling 0.1-second window (Correct answer)
- Average velocity during high-speed running bouts
- Time spent above 85% maximum heart rate
Correct answer: Peak speed over a rolling 0.1-second window
Peak speed measured over a short rolling window captures the highest instantaneous velocity achieved, reflecting maximal sprint neuromuscular output.
Question 3: In electromyography (EMG) signal processing, what is the purpose of applying a bandpass filter between 20-500 Hz to raw surface EMG data?
- To amplify low-frequency joint angle signals
- To remove movement artifacts and high-frequency electrical noise while preserving the muscle signal (Correct answer)
- To synchronize EMG with force plate data
- To convert analog signals to digital format
Correct answer: To remove movement artifacts and high-frequency electrical noise while preserving the muscle signal
Bandpass filtering between 20-500 Hz removes low-frequency motion artifacts and high-frequency noise while preserving the true myoelectric signal.
Question 4: What is the primary advantage of using a portable metabolic cart (e.g., COSMED K5) over a laboratory metabolic system during field testing?
- Higher accuracy due to laboratory-grade calibration gases
- Enables gas exchange measurement during sport-specific activities in real-world environments (Correct answer)
- Eliminates the need for expired air analysis
- Provides real-time blood gas data without venipuncture
Correct answer: Enables gas exchange measurement during sport-specific activities in real-world environments
Portable metabolic carts allow VO2 and VCO2 measurement during sport-specific movements in field settings that lab treadmills cannot replicate.
Question 5: A performance scientist uses ultrasound imaging to assess vastus lateralis morphology. Which measurement is most closely associated with muscle force-producing capacity?
- Pennation angle and fascicle length (Correct answer)
- Echo intensity only
- Tendon cross-sectional area
- Superficial fat layer thickness
Correct answer: Pennation angle and fascicle length
Pennation angle influences force transmission and fascicle length determines shortening velocity and excursion, together characterizing force-producing architecture.
Question 6: In athlete monitoring, the 'acute:chronic workload ratio' (ACWR) is used to quantify injury risk. What does the chronic workload in this model typically represent?
- The single highest training load session over the past year
- The rolling 28-day average training load representing fitness (Correct answer)
- The average training load from the most recent week
- The maximum load the athlete has tolerated in career history
Correct answer: The rolling 28-day average training load representing fitness
Chronic workload is typically calculated as a 28-day rolling average, representing the athlete's accumulated fitness or capacity.
Question 7: Which assessment technology provides the most valid measure of lower-body bilateral strength asymmetry during a unilateral squat assessment?
- Single force plate measuring total ground reaction force
- Dual force plates measuring each limb independently with peak vertical force (Correct answer)
- Accelerometer-based velocity measurements only
- Isokinetic dynamometer set to bilateral mode
Correct answer: Dual force plates measuring each limb independently with peak vertical force
Dual force plates independently measure each limb's ground reaction force, enabling direct calculation of bilateral asymmetry indices.
CPSS Performance Assessment Technologies 4
A performance scientist wants to assess the reliability of a new jump testing protocol.
Which statistical method is most appropriate for evaluating test-retest reliability?