Validity and reliability of an opto-electric training system in elite and national level ISSF air rifle shooters

The validity of a commonly used optoelectronic training system was examined by identifying the variables that predicted shot score, investigating their ability to discriminate standard, and assessing the predictive variables' test-retest error. A repeated-measures approach assessed test-retest error, a cross-sectional approach compared standards of shooters and an observational approach examined predictors of shot score. 21 elite and 8 national-standard athletes participated. Multiple linear regression, independent t tests, typical error and coefficient of variation assessed predictors of shot score, discrimination between standards and test-retest error respectively. Stability of aiming predicted 84.2% of the variance in shot score. Six Scatt Expert variables, 10a0, 10a5, 10.0, 10.5, Speed in the last 250 mm, and stability of aiming, discriminated standard (P < 0.05). Test-retest error ranged from a coefficient of variance of 0.72% for 10a0 to 30.69% for Accuracy of Aiming. Stability of aiming had a typical error of 0.55 mm and a coefficient of variance of 13.93%. Results suggest that this optoelectronic training system possesses construct validity if stability of aiming is used as the outcome measure.

Automated summary

This study examined the validity of an optoelectronic training system by identifying predictors of shot score, testing their ability to distinguish between standard shooters, and assessing test-retest error. The findings indicate that stability of aiming is a significant predictor of shot score, six Scatt Expert variables can discriminate between standard shooters, and the test-retest error varies across different variables.