EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY LABORATORY
MANUAL
9TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)WILLIAM BEAM, GENE
ADAMS
TEST BAN
1
Reference: Chapter 1 — Introduction and Terminology
Stem: During an orientation lab, a technician compares two
digital body-mass scales. Scale A reads 72.15 kg repeatedly;
Scale B reads 72.3, 72.1, 72.2, 72.4 kg across four trials. You
must decide which scale demonstrates greater precision and
which demonstrates greater accuracy when a calibrated
standard mass is 72.2 kg.
A. Scale A is more precise and more accurate.
B. Scale A is more precise; Scale B is more accurate.
,C. Scale B is more precise; Scale A is more accurate.
D. Scale B is more precise and more accurate.
Correct answer: B
Rationale — Correct: Scale A gives very little variability (high
precision) but its readings (~72.15) are slightly off from the
standard (less accurate). Scale B has higher variability (lower
precision) but the mean of readings (~72.25) is closer to the
standard (more accurate). This distinguishes precision
(repeatability) from accuracy (closeness to true value).
Rationale — Incorrect options:
A: Scale A is precise but not as close to the standard as Scale B;
thus not more accurate.
C: Scale B shows more variability, so it is not more precise.
D: Scale B is neither the most precise nor clearly the single most
accurate compared to A’s low variance.
Teaching point: Precision = repeatability; accuracy = closeness
to the true value.
Citation: Beam, W., & Adams, G. (9th ed.). Exercise Physiology
Laboratory Manual. Chapter 1.
2
Reference: Chapter 1 — Introduction and Terminology
Stem: A lab measures resting VO₂ using a metabolic cart in
L·min⁻¹, then reports VO₂ relative to body mass (mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹).
,A 70 kg subject has absolute VO₂ = 3.0 L·min⁻¹. The instructor
asks which interpretation emphasizes cardiorespiratory fitness
across individuals of different sizes. Which is best?
A. Absolute VO₂ (L·min⁻¹) best for cross-person fitness
comparisons.
B. Relative VO₂ (mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹) better for comparing fitness
across different body masses.
C. Relative VO₂ exaggerates fitness in larger individuals;
absolute VO₂ is the only valid metric.
D. Use percent change in absolute VO₂ to compare fitness
between subjects.
Correct answer: B
Rationale — Correct: Relative VO₂ normalizes oxygen uptake to
body mass (mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹), allowing meaningful comparisons
across subjects with different sizes. Absolute VO₂ reflects total
oxygen use but is biased by body size; percent change in
absolute VO₂ does not remove size dependence.
Rationale — Incorrect options:
A: Absolute VO₂ is size-dependent and not ideal for cross-
person comparisons.
C: Relative VO₂ actually corrects size bias; it does not
systematically exaggerate fitness in larger individuals.
D: Percent change in absolute VO₂ still retains size dependence
and can mislead cross-subject comparisons.
Teaching point: Normalize VO₂ to body mass (mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹) to
compare cardiorespiratory fitness across sizes.
, Citation: Beam, W., & Adams, G. (9th ed.). Exercise Physiology
Laboratory Manual. Chapter 1.
3
Reference: Chapter 1 — Introduction and Terminology
Stem: In a reliability study, two raters measure thigh
circumference. Rater 1’s measurements differ from Rater 2’s by
a constant +1.2 cm across participants. Which type of
measurement error is present and what effect does it have on
validity and reliability?
A. Random error; lowers reliability but not validity.
B. Systematic error (bias); reduces validity but may not affect
reliability.
C. Random error; reduces both validity and reliability equally.
D. Systematic error (bias); increases reliability and validity.
Correct answer: B
Rationale — Correct: A constant offset across measurements
indicates systematic error (bias). Bias reduces validity because
readings are not close to the true value; however, because the
offset is consistent, reliability (repeatability/coherence between
raters) can remain high.
Rationale — Incorrect options:
A/C: Random error would produce variable, non-constant
differences, not a consistent +1.2 cm offset.
MANUAL
9TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)WILLIAM BEAM, GENE
ADAMS
TEST BAN
1
Reference: Chapter 1 — Introduction and Terminology
Stem: During an orientation lab, a technician compares two
digital body-mass scales. Scale A reads 72.15 kg repeatedly;
Scale B reads 72.3, 72.1, 72.2, 72.4 kg across four trials. You
must decide which scale demonstrates greater precision and
which demonstrates greater accuracy when a calibrated
standard mass is 72.2 kg.
A. Scale A is more precise and more accurate.
B. Scale A is more precise; Scale B is more accurate.
,C. Scale B is more precise; Scale A is more accurate.
D. Scale B is more precise and more accurate.
Correct answer: B
Rationale — Correct: Scale A gives very little variability (high
precision) but its readings (~72.15) are slightly off from the
standard (less accurate). Scale B has higher variability (lower
precision) but the mean of readings (~72.25) is closer to the
standard (more accurate). This distinguishes precision
(repeatability) from accuracy (closeness to true value).
Rationale — Incorrect options:
A: Scale A is precise but not as close to the standard as Scale B;
thus not more accurate.
C: Scale B shows more variability, so it is not more precise.
D: Scale B is neither the most precise nor clearly the single most
accurate compared to A’s low variance.
Teaching point: Precision = repeatability; accuracy = closeness
to the true value.
Citation: Beam, W., & Adams, G. (9th ed.). Exercise Physiology
Laboratory Manual. Chapter 1.
2
Reference: Chapter 1 — Introduction and Terminology
Stem: A lab measures resting VO₂ using a metabolic cart in
L·min⁻¹, then reports VO₂ relative to body mass (mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹).
,A 70 kg subject has absolute VO₂ = 3.0 L·min⁻¹. The instructor
asks which interpretation emphasizes cardiorespiratory fitness
across individuals of different sizes. Which is best?
A. Absolute VO₂ (L·min⁻¹) best for cross-person fitness
comparisons.
B. Relative VO₂ (mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹) better for comparing fitness
across different body masses.
C. Relative VO₂ exaggerates fitness in larger individuals;
absolute VO₂ is the only valid metric.
D. Use percent change in absolute VO₂ to compare fitness
between subjects.
Correct answer: B
Rationale — Correct: Relative VO₂ normalizes oxygen uptake to
body mass (mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹), allowing meaningful comparisons
across subjects with different sizes. Absolute VO₂ reflects total
oxygen use but is biased by body size; percent change in
absolute VO₂ does not remove size dependence.
Rationale — Incorrect options:
A: Absolute VO₂ is size-dependent and not ideal for cross-
person comparisons.
C: Relative VO₂ actually corrects size bias; it does not
systematically exaggerate fitness in larger individuals.
D: Percent change in absolute VO₂ still retains size dependence
and can mislead cross-subject comparisons.
Teaching point: Normalize VO₂ to body mass (mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹) to
compare cardiorespiratory fitness across sizes.
, Citation: Beam, W., & Adams, G. (9th ed.). Exercise Physiology
Laboratory Manual. Chapter 1.
3
Reference: Chapter 1 — Introduction and Terminology
Stem: In a reliability study, two raters measure thigh
circumference. Rater 1’s measurements differ from Rater 2’s by
a constant +1.2 cm across participants. Which type of
measurement error is present and what effect does it have on
validity and reliability?
A. Random error; lowers reliability but not validity.
B. Systematic error (bias); reduces validity but may not affect
reliability.
C. Random error; reduces both validity and reliability equally.
D. Systematic error (bias); increases reliability and validity.
Correct answer: B
Rationale — Correct: A constant offset across measurements
indicates systematic error (bias). Bias reduces validity because
readings are not close to the true value; however, because the
offset is consistent, reliability (repeatability/coherence between
raters) can remain high.
Rationale — Incorrect options:
A/C: Random error would produce variable, non-constant
differences, not a consistent +1.2 cm offset.
