Variations in the effects of two training methods upon work output

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of "steady pace" and "interval" training methods upon work output. Thirty-four male University of British Columbia first year students between the ages of nineteen and twenty-one, were selected from the required physical education activity program. Each student was tested on a fixed resistance type bicycle ergometer. The number of revolutions achieved in two minutes was recorded. Two groups were then formed by the "paired comparison" method and trained for six weeks. Both groups did the same amount of work in each training session but each group varied its method of work application, i.e. one group trained at a steady effort while the other group trained at a higher power, with regulated rest periods between bursts of power. Each group was subjected to a two minute test at the intervals of two, four and six weeks after the commencement of training. On the basis of statistical treatment, the following results were evident: 1. There was no statistically significant improvement of work output scores for either group after two weeks of training. 2. After four weeks of training, both groups exhibited marked improvement in work output scores which were statistically significant at the five percent level of confidence. 3. Tests after six weeks of training indicated statistically significant improvements in performance scores in both groups. These scores were statistically significant at the five percent level of confidence. 4. Both types of training, when compared, showed no difference in the results obtained at the end of two, four and six weeks of training. There was no statistically significant difference between the means of each group at the end of two, four and six weeks of regulated training. It was concluded that within the limitations of the study, there was no difference in work output obtained from the results of either "steady" or "interval" types of training provided the total work done by the members of either group was the same. In both groups, however, a statistically significant gain in work output was evident after four and six weeks of training.Education, Faculty ofCurriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department ofGraduat