Exam 1

KIN 610: Quantitative Analysis of Research in Kinesiology — Spring 2026

TipHow to Use This Exam Document

For Students:

Note: The use of AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, etc.) is strictly prohibited.

  1. [📥 Download Exam 1 Word Format — Refer to the right-hand side of the page for download link
  2. Add your name and date in the document header
  3. Complete all 8 questions in Part 2: Your Answers
  4. Include SPSS output where requested (use the methods explained in class and paste into the Word file)
  5. DELETE Part 1 (Instructions) before submitting
  6. Submit your completed exam via Canvas as a single PDF

File Naming: Save as LastName_FirstName_Exam1.pdf

PART 1: INSTRUCTIONS

WarningImportant: Delete This Section Before Submission

Part 1 contains the exam instructions. After reading the instructions and completing your work in Part 2, DELETE this entire Part 1 section before submitting.

Exam Details

  • Date: Week 10 — March 23, 2026
  • Location: RE 276 (Computer Lab)
  • Time Allowed: Full class session (~2 hours and 40 minutes)
  • Total Points: 80 points (8 questions × 10 points each)

What You May Use

✅ Your own notes (handwritten or typed)
✅ Statistics for Movement Science (SMS) ebook
✅ Vincent & Weir (5E) textbook
✅ SPSS software (installed on lab computers)

❌ Internet resources beyond course materials
❌ AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, etc.)
❌ Communication with other students
❌ Someone else’s notes

Submission

  1. Complete the exam in the Word document
  2. Save as PDF: LastName_FirstName_Exam1.pdf
  3. Submit via Canvas before leaving class
ImportantSave Your SPSS Work Frequently

Technical issues will not grant extra time. Save your SPSS data file and output frequently throughout the exam.

Dataset

A physical fitness assessment was conducted with 49 participants. The following variables were recorded:

Variable Description Scale
Age Age in years Ratio
Gender 1 = Male, 2 = Female Nominal
RHR Resting Heart Rate (beats per minute) Ratio
VO2_Max Aerobic capacity (mL/kg/min) Ratio
BMI Body Mass Index (kg/m²) Ratio

📥 Download Dataset (physical-fitness.csv)

Right-click the link above and select “Save Link As…” to download the dataset. Then proceed to open the dataset in SPSS.

PART 2: YOUR ANSWERS

NoteBefore You Begin

Write your full name and today’s date at the top of your Word document. Answer all 8 questions. Show all relevant SPSS output where requested.

Question 1 — Measures of Central Tendency (10 pts)

Using SPSS, calculate the N, mean, median, and mode of participants’ BMI:

  1. For the entire sample
  2. Separately for male and female participants

Provide the SPSS Descriptives output for each analysis. Then, identify which measure of central tendency best represents the center of the BMI distribution for the entire sample, and explain your reasoning using the values you obtained.

If you filtered the dataset in question 1, ensure to clear the filter before proceeding to question 2, so that all participants are included in subsequent analyses.

Question 2 — Measures of Variability (10 pts)

Using SPSS, calculate the range, variance, and standard deviation of participants’ VO2 Max:

  1. For the entire sample
  2. Separately for male and female participants

Provide the SPSS output. Then, state which measure(s) of variability you would report when describing this dataset, and justify your choice based on the distributional characteristics of the data.

If you filtered the dataset in question 2, ensure to clear the filter before proceeding to question 3, so that all participants are included in subsequent analyses.

Question 3 — Data Visualization and Normality (10 pts)

Using SPSS, assess whether Resting Heart Rate (RHR) is normally distributed by:

  1. Creating a histogram and a Q-Q plot for RHR
  2. Running the Shapiro-Wilk test for the entire sample
  3. Reporting skewness and kurtosis values (with SE) and calculating z-skewness and z-kurtosis

Provide all charts and the SPSS output. Write a brief paragraph (3–5 sentences) interpreting the results of each method and stating your overall conclusion about whether RHR is normally distributed.

Question 4 — z-scores and the Normal Curve (10 pts)

Using the sample mean and standard deviation for RHR you obtained in Question 2 (or recalculate as needed):

  1. Calculate the z-score for a participant with an RHR of 85 bpm. Show your formula and calculation.
  2. Interpret what this z-score means relative to the rest of the sample.
  3. Using the standard normal distribution (z-table or SPSS), determine approximately what percentage of participants would be expected to have an RHR higher than 85 bpm. Show your work.

Question 5 — Statistical Inference (10 pts)

Answer the following conceptual questions in your own words:

  1. Explain the difference between a Type I error and a Type II error. Provide a specific example using one of the variables in this dataset.
  2. A researcher decides to use α = .01 instead of α = .05. Explain how this change affects (i) the risk of a Type I error, (ii) the risk of a Type II error, and (iii) statistical power.
  3. A study reports: t(47) = 2.04, p = .047. What can you conclude at α = .05? What would you conclude at α = .01? Explain your reasoning for each decision.

Question 6 — Pearson Correlation (10 pts)

Using SPSS, calculate the Pearson correlation coefficient between Age and VO2 Max for the entire sample.

  1. Provide the SPSS correlation output (correlation matrix).
  2. Describe the strength and direction of the relationship using established criteria.
NoteCriteria Reference

Use Cohen’s (1988) criteria to classify the strength of the correlation. See the Statistics for Movement Science textbook for the thresholds: Effect Size Benchmarks — Pearson r.

  1. Report the result in APA format.
  2. Briefly discuss one possible explanation for the observed relationship between age and aerobic capacity in a general population sample.

Question 7 — Simple Linear Regression (10 pts)

Using SPSS, conduct a simple linear regression with BMI as the predictor (independent variable) and VO2 Max as the outcome (dependent variable) for the entire sample.

  1. Provide the SPSS Model Summary and Coefficients tables.
  2. Report and interpret the R² value: how much variance in VO2 Max is explained by BMI?
  3. Report the unstandardized regression coefficient (B) for BMI and interpret its practical meaning (i.e., what does a 1-unit increase in BMI correspond to in terms of VO2 Max?).
  4. Write the regression equation using the values from your output.

Question 8 — Independent Samples t-test (10 pts)

Using SPSS, determine whether there is a statistically significant difference in VO2 Max between male and female participants.

  1. State the null hypothesis and the alternative hypothesis.
  2. Check the assumption of homogeneity of variance using Levene’s test. Report the result and indicate which row of the t-test output you used (equal variances assumed or not assumed), and why.
  3. Provide the SPSS Independent Samples t-test output.
  4. Report the result in APA format, including the t-statistic, degrees of freedom, p-value, and 95% confidence interval for the mean difference.
  5. Calculate Cohen’s d and interpret the effect size using established benchmarks.
NoteBenchmarks Reference

Use the classification benchmarks from the Statistics for Movement Science textbook: Effect Size Benchmarks — Cohen’s d.

Grading Summary

Question Topic Points
1 Measures of Central Tendency 10
2 Measures of Variability 10
3 Data Visualization and Normality 10
4 z-scores and the Normal Curve 10
5 Statistical Inference 10
6 Pearson Correlation 10
7 Simple Linear Regression 10
8 Independent Samples t-test 10
Total 80