title: Interrater reliability and time measurement validity of speed-agility field tests in adolescents.
abstract: The aim of this study was to examine the interrater reliability (trained vs. untrained raters) and criterion-related validity (manual vs. automatic timing) of the 4 × 10-m shuttle run and 30-m running speed tests (times measured). The study comprised 85 adolescents (38 girls) aged 13.0-16.9 years from the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence study. The time required to complete the 4 × 10-m shuttle run and 30-m running tests was simultaneously measured (a) manually with a stopwatch by both trained and untrained raters (for interrater reliability analysis), and (b) by using photoelectric cells (for validity analysis). Systematic error, random error, and heteroscedasticity were studied with repeated-measured analysis of variance and Bland-Altman plots. The systematic error for untrained vs. trained raters and the untrained raters vs. photoelectric cells were in all cases ∼0.1 seconds (p < 0.01), that is, untrained raters recorded higher times. No systematic error was found between trained raters and photoelectric cells (p > 0.05). No heteroscedasticity was shown in any case (p > 0.05). The findings indicate that manual measurements by a trained rater, using a stopwatch, seem to be a valid method to assess speed and agility fitness testing in adolescents. Researchers must be trained to minimize the measurement error.
authors.affiliation: Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development (GENUD) Research Group, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain. gervicen@unizar.es
authors.forename: Germán
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vicente-Rodríguez
authors.forename: Juan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Rey-López
authors.forename: Jonathan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Ruíz
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jiménez-Pavón
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bergman
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ciarapica
authors.forename: Jose M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Heredia
authors.forename: Denes
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Molnar
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gutierrez
authors.forename: Luis A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: Francisco B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Ortega
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D054874:Athletic Performance; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D011361:Professional Competence; D011930:Reaction Time; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012420:Running; D013997:Time Factors