Measurement Theory and Practice in Kinesiology

Simple, yet sophisticated, Measurement Theory and Practice in Kinesiology is presented without the need to work through rigorous equation sets. The text appeals to a broad readership interested in measurement. Researchers and students can fathom the conceptual basis for topical measurement techniques and their application, and they are exposed to measurement issues in various physical activity fields. The text grounds readers in measurement basics in an easy-to-understand fashion and is for non-measurement specialists who deal with measurement in various physical activity fields.

But it goes beyond simple. It takes full advantage of the advances in computer technology and programming to offer an array of advanced test construction and modeling methodologies to researchers and practitioners. And it describes new methods in handling both large and small data sets.

Measurement Theory and Practice in Kinesiology provides a contemporary reference on measurement issues. The authors take both a broad and focused look at measurement issues in the physical domain. Readers learn about the tools that can facilitate their more advanced work, particularly with regard to statistical techniques, and learn practical applications in areas such as educational assessment and preemployment physical testing.

The book is divided into four parts. Part I introduces readers to measurement basics, including validity, reliability, and test construction. Part II explores current issues in measurement, including ethical issues, computerized adaptive testing, item bias, and scaling and equating measures. Part III focuses on advanced statistical techniques, including analysis of large and small data sets, analysis of longitudinal data, and structural equation modeling and its applications. In part IV, the authors look at measurement in practice, current issues in physical education, measurement of physical activity, measurement issues in the clinical setting, epidemiology and physical activity, and preemployment physical testing.

With this simple yet sophisticated approach, Measurement Theory and Practice in Kinesiology can be used by students in graduate-level introductory measurement courses or as a reference by researchers and clinicians in the allied health professions.

Terry M. Wood, PhD, is emeritus associate professor in the department of nutrition and exercise sciences at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. He has 20 years of experience in teaching, researching, and practicing measurement at Oregon State University and has coauthored two other books on measurement theory and practice. In addition, he has authored chapters in measurement practice texts; has written more than 40 refereed research articles, abstracts, and proceedings on measurement topics; and has given 65 professional presentations on measurement topics at the local, regional, national, and international levels.

Dr. Wood is the former chair of the AAHPERD Measurement and Evaluation Council, and he served as president of the International Society for Measurement and Evaluation. He is a member of AAHPERD and has been a member of a number of other professional associations in educational research and measurement as well as the American College of Sports Medicine.

Weimo Zhu, PhD, is currently an associate professor in the department of kinesiology and community health at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a visiting professor at Guangzhou Institute of Physical Education and Shanghai Institute of Physical Education, both in China. His major area of research is measurement and evaluation in kinesiology.

Dr. Zhu's primary research interests are in the study and application of new measurement theories (e.g., item response theory) and models to the field of kinesiology. His research works have earned him international recognition. He served as the measurement section editor of the Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport from 1999 to 2005, and he is a fellow of the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education, American College of Sports Medicine, and Research Consortium, AAHPERD. He is a member of the Science Board of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and the Fitnessgram/Activitygram Advisory Committee. He is also a member of the editorial board for three other journals and serves on the executive committees of several national and international professional organizations. Dr. Zhu was the chair of the Measurement and Evaluation Council, AAHPERD. Currently, Dr. Zhu is also examining the application of advanced measurement and statistical techniques to several measurement issues in the area of public health. A tangible practical application of Zhu's theoretical work has been his work in the assessment of physical activity, and he is exploring a new idea (physical activity space) and technologies (voice recognition and automatic scoring) to solve the problems raised.