Growth and Fitness of Flemish Girls: The Leuven Growth Study (book)
DESCRIPTION This text presents results from the Leuven Growth Study of Flemish Girls and provides a detailed description of the pilot study and research design, giving special attention to data quality control. The monograph is unique because it covers a wide variation in human growth and development characteristics based on a large sample of a population. The sample was assembled by a team of 12 instructors under the supervision of experienced kinanthropometrists. Based on the findings of a cross-sectional study, the monograph describes the growth patterns (in somatic dimensions), biological maturation, physical performance characteristics, and sport participation of 9,940 Flemish girls ages 6 to 18. The sociocultural characteristics of the sample population and examples of practical tools for evaluating the physical fitness levels of individuals or groups are also presented. AUDIENCE Reference for specialists in motor learning, motor development, kinanthropometry, and sport pedagogy. CONTENTS Preface Acknowledgments Chapter 1: The Study Design, Jan Simons, Gaston P. Beunen, Roland Renson, and Dirk Van Gerven The Pilot Study * The Selection of Tests and Measurements Chapter 2: The Sample, Bart Vanreusel, Jan Simons, and Gaston P. Beunen Chapter 3: The Testing Procedure, Renee Colla and Chris Schueremans The Test Administration Chapter 4: The Description of Tests and Measurements, Albrecht L.M. Claessens, Bart Vanden Eynde, Roland Renson, and Dirk Van_Gerven_ Description of Anthropometric Measurements * Description of the Motor Fitness Battery * Description of the Physiologic Parameters * Somatotype Photographs * Skeletal and Sexual Maturation Chapter 5: The Sociocultural and Physical Activity Inventories, Roland Renson and Bart Vanreusel Movement Activity Inventory * Sport Participation Inventory Chapter 6: Data Input and Quality Control, Johan A.V. Lefevre, Gaston P. Beunen, and Rita Wellens Data Collection * Data Input * Data Cleaning Chapter 7: The Construction of the Growth Standards, Magda Vuylsteke-Wauters and Johan A.V. Lefevre The Algebraic Representation of Splines * The Stepwise Regression Method for Defining the Knots Chapter 8: Sociocultural Characteristics of the Subjects, Roland Renson and Bart Vanreusel Educational Level of the Parents * Socioprofessional Status of the Father * Urbanization Level * Family Size and Birth Order * Sport Participation of the Parents Chapter