Over the past 50 years progress in fitness and activity research has been influenced by social events, technical innovations, and changes in the field of physical education and kinesiology. The conventional wisdom of the 1950s yielded to a new wisdom based on research evidence. The author's research, as well as the research of others, from 1960 to…

When institutional testing is done well, there are many potential benefits; however, it is not without its negatives. The Texas Youth Evaluation Project (TYEP) is an example of large scale institutional testing that yielded more than a few benefits. However, results reported some problems as well. Much has been learned from the TYEP, including…

The purpose of this study was to examine if steps/day taken by middle school students varied based on aerobic fitness classification. Middle school students (N = 223; 112 girls, 111 boys) were assigned to three aerobic fitness categories (HIGH, MOD, LOW) based on results of the FITNESSGRAM PACER test. Four weekdays of pedometer monitoring…

Sedentary women (n=92) classified as low (L), medium (M), and high (H) in baseline step counts and assigned to 10,000-step goal (TSG) and personal step goal (PSG) groups (within levels) were compared on goal attainment and step counts. A significant interaction for goal attainment, F(2, 86)=4.51, p=.014, indicated that the L group was…

Examined whether elementary students would compensate for restricted physical activity during school hours by increasing activity levels after school. Students wore an accelerometer monitor for 4 consecutive days. Overall, students did not compensate for sedentary school days by increasing their physical activity levels after school. Activity…

Trial administrations of the FITLOC, multidimensional scales for the measurement of locus of control of reinforcement for physical fitness behavior, provided preliminary evidence for the scales' reliability and validity. (Author/CB)

Investigation of differences between male and female students' reactions to receiving or not receiving performance feedback indicated that both sexes showed lower self-confidence when they did not receive feedback and that lack of self-confidence impaired the performance of males more than females. Participants were 111 fifth- and sixth-grade…

This study established criterion-referenced standards for selected tests of arm and shoulder girdle strength and endurance in college females. Tests of trained and untrained students using the contrasting groups method yielded criterion cutoff scores that classified subjects as trained or untrained based on upper arm and shoulder girdle resistance…

National School Population Fitness Survey data were reexamined to assess fitness in U.S. children and youth, comparing numbers meeting norm-referenced standards and criterion-referenced health (CRH) standards. Using CRH standards to view fitness had advantages over norm-referenced standards. Results did not indicate a decline in fitness levels.…