Abstract
Objective
The Grooved Pegboard Test (GPT) is among the most commonly used fine motor tasks, though there is limited data on its basic psychometric properties in children and adolescents with medical conditions. The purpose of this study was to establish test reliability for the GPT within this group.
Method
Participants (N = 44; 22 males, 22 females) were children and adolescents clinically referred for neuropsychological evaluation. Diagnoses included epilepsy (n = 24), cardiac conditions (n = 13), other (n = 5). Each completed the GPT twice: once in the morning and once in the afternoon, ranging from 64-390 minutes apart (x-=263 min., SD = 60 min.). Spearman correlations assessed test–retest reliability for speed of completion for both dominant (DH) and non-dominant hands (NDH) trials and number of peg drops. Paired sample t-test assessed for practice effects between administrations.
Results
Ages ranged between 6.11 to 18.10 years (x-=12.52 yrs., SD = 3.19 yrs.). GPT raw scores for first presentation ranged from 25-296 seconds (DH x-=80.91, SD = 25.1; NDH x-=95.34, SD = 49.42). The GPT showed high test–retest reliability for DH (ρ = 0.80, p < 0.001) and NDH (ρ = 0.83, p < 0.001). Number of drops showed non-significant correlations across trials (DH ρ = −0.03, p = 0.87; NDH ρ = 0.11, p = 0.49). Practice effects were identified for the DH (t = −3.25, p = 0.002) but not NDH (t = −1.83, p = 0.074).
Conclusion
Strong test–retest reliability of the GPT speed of completion in this population supports stability of test results over time, though practice effects are seen at short intervals. Number of pegs dropped, however, lacks sufficient retest reliability and may be of lesser clinical utility. Overall, this study provides increased confidence for continued use of the GPT.
Construct validity and test–retest reliability of the International Fitness Scale (IFIS) in Colombian children and adolescents aged 9–17.9 years: the FUPRECOL study