CSCS Data Analysis & Reporting 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A CSCS practitioner uses linear regression to predict 1RM bench press from a 3RM test. The R² value is 0.91. What does this indicate?
- 91% of athletes can accurately predict their 1RM
- 91% of variance in 1RM is explained by the 3RM test score (Correct answer)
- The regression equation has a 9% margin of error on each prediction
- The correlation between variables is 0.91
Correct answer: 91% of variance in 1RM is explained by the 3RM test score
R² (coefficient of determination) indicates the proportion of variance in the dependent variable (1RM) explained by the predictor variable (3RM test).
Question 2: When conducting athlete performance reviews, which data reporting practice best supports athlete buy-in and long-term development?
- Reporting only team average data to maintain individual privacy
- Providing individualized comparisons to personal bests alongside group norms (Correct answer)
- Sharing only positive findings to boost athlete confidence
- Presenting raw force plate waveforms without interpretation
Correct answer: Providing individualized comparisons to personal bests alongside group norms
Combining individual progress tracking with normative context gives athletes both personal motivation and a sense of where they stand, supporting engagement and development.
Question 3: A team's average vertical jump improves from 24 to 26 inches after a 10-week program. The standard deviation is 3 inches. What is the effect size (Cohen's d)?
- 0.33
- 0.50
- 0.67 (Correct answer)
- 0.83
Correct answer: 0.67
Cohen's d = (26-24)/3 = 2/3 ≈ 0.67, which represents a medium-to-large effect size for the training intervention.
Question 4: In a CSCS testing environment, 'ecological validity' refers to:
- Whether the test results generalize to actual sport performance conditions (Correct answer)
- Whether the test is valid for use outdoors vs. indoors
- Whether environmental temperature affects test reliability
- Whether the test is valid across different ecological biomes
Correct answer: Whether the test results generalize to actual sport performance conditions
Ecological validity describes how well laboratory or controlled test conditions reflect real-world sport performance contexts.
Question 5: A strength coach is analyzing training logs and notices an athlete's weekly load data are not normally distributed. Which non-parametric test should replace the paired t-test for pre/post comparison?
- ANOVA with repeated measures
- Wilcoxon signed-rank test (Correct answer)
- Pearson product-moment correlation
- Levene's test for equality of variances
Correct answer: Wilcoxon signed-rank test
The Wilcoxon signed-rank test is the non-parametric alternative to the paired t-test, used when data violate normality assumptions.
Question 6: An athlete monitoring dashboard shows a 'traffic light' system where green = normal, yellow = caution, and red = concern. The thresholds are based on ±1 SD (yellow) and ±2 SD (red) from an athlete's baseline. This approach is an example of:
- Normative reference range modeling
- Individual athlete threshold-based monitoring (Correct answer)
- Group cohort analysis methodology
- Criterion-referenced testing standards
Correct answer: Individual athlete threshold-based monitoring
Using each athlete's own baseline and individual standard deviations as thresholds is individual-based monitoring, which accounts for athlete-to-athlete variability.
Question 7: Which of the following is the most critical consideration when selecting normative data tables to compare an athlete's performance results?
- The normative data should be from the most recently published source available
- The normative group should match the athlete in age, sex, sport, and training status (Correct answer)
- Normative data from larger sample sizes are always preferred regardless of population
- Normative tables from international sources provide the most valid comparisons
Correct answer: The normative group should match the athlete in age, sex, sport, and training status
Meaningful normative comparisons require that the reference group closely matches the athlete in key demographic and training characteristics.
CSCS Data Analysis & Reporting 5
A CSCS practitioner uses linear regression to predict 1RM bench press from a 3RM test.
The R² value is 0.91.
What does this indicate?