Objectivity, Reliability, and Validity for a Revised Push-Up Test Protocol

When executing a push-up an individual lowers the body to a down position and then raises it to an up position. A down position often used in recent years is a 90° angle at the elbows (90° push-up) as in FITNESSGRAM. Several researchers have found the interscorer objectivity and stability reliability for 90° push-up scores to be low. The purpose of this study was to (a) estimate the interscorer objectivity and stability reliability for scores from a revised push-up test protocol and (b) obtain evidence concerning the validity of interpretations based on revised push-up test scores. Interscorer objectivity was estimated for a score of one scorer and stability reliability was estimated for a score obtained on 1 day. Four studies were conducted. In the first study, pilot study, the revised push-up test protocol was developed and refined. In the second study, objectivity study, the push-up test was administered once to 49 female and 31 male college-aged students. Two scorers independently scored each student. Interscorer objectivity coefficients of·75 for women and ·88 for men were obtained. In the third study, objectivity and reliability study, the push-up test was administered on each of 2 days to 89 female and 63 male college-aged students. Two scorers independently scored each student on each day. Interscorer objectivity coefficients of ·97 and ·95 for women and ·98 and ·99 for men were obtained. Stability reliability coefficients of ·90 and ·93 for women and ·95 and ·95 for men were obtained. In the fourth study, validity study, validity was estimated using a logical approach, group difference approach, and criterion approach. There were 58 male and 48 female college students in the validity study. The revised push-up test protocol is very similar to protocols presently used and as expected the men scored significantly (p < .01) better than the women on the revised push-up test. The correlation between revised push-up scores and number of bench press executions with a percentage of the body weight was·80 for women and ·87 for men. The interscorer objectivity and stability reliability coefficients are very acceptable. Sufficient validity evidence was provided that the revised push-up scores relate to the amount of arm and shoulder girdle strength and endurance a person has to move the body weight.