scholarly journals A new motor screening assessment for children at risk for motor disorders: construct validity

2018 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 104-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paola Matiko Martins Okuda ◽  
Melissa Pangelinan ◽  
Carlo Chiorri ◽  
Simone Aparecida Capellini ◽  
Hugo Cogo-Moreira

ABSTRACT Objective: To develop a motor screening assessment and provide preliminary evidence of its psychometric properties. Methods: A sample of 365 elementary school students was assessed, with structural equation modeling applied to obtain evidence of the adequacy of the factor structure of the motor screening assessment. As well, differential item functioning was used to evaluate whether various identifiable subgroups of children (i.e., sex and grade) perform particular tasks differently. Results: Overall, girls obtained higher scores than boys while, for both sexes, the assessment scores increased with age. Furthermore, differential item function analysis revealed that the precision of the test was highest for those with moderate to low motor performance, suggesting that this tool would be appropriate for identifying individuals with movement difficulties. Conclusion: Although further tests of its psychometric properties are required, the motor screening assessment appears to be a reliable, valid, and quickly-administered tool for screening children's movements.

2000 ◽  
Vol 86 (3) ◽  
pp. 789-802 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgios D. Sideridis ◽  
Susana Padeliadu

The present purpose was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Test of Reading Performance, a new scale designed to evaluate the reading performance of Greek elementary school students. The sample consisted of 181 elementary school students, attending Grades 1–6 at two elementary schools in the area of Thessaloniki. The Test of Reading Performance was hypothesized to measure six constructs, namely, letter knowledge, phoneme blending, word identification, morphology knowledge, syntactic knowledge, and passage comprehension. Each construct was defined by two to four measured variables. The chosen structural model supported the multidimensional nature of reading and the relationship between the measured variables and constructs. Estimates of discriminant and convergent validity using confirmatory factor analytic procedures were satisfactory although these was multicollinearity for the measures morphology-syntax and morphology-comprehension. Internal consistency was also satisfactory for the full scale (α = .83).


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 28
Author(s):  
Amla SALLEH

Teaching values in modern schools is a new phenomenon. Malaysian national curriculum at both primary and secondary school levels ensures that students develop desirable attitudes and behaviors based on human, religious, and spiritual values. The inculcation of the values is made possible through various subjects and non-academic subjects and students’ activities. However, knowledge about values education remains limited because there is no measurement device to assess the extent of values teaching in school. To fill this gap, the present study was designed to develop and examine the psychometric properties of an instrument measuring values teaching schools.  Using data from 400 high school students, the study developed and validated a measure called Malaysia School Values Scale (MSVS) tailored to high school students in Malaysia. A robust analysis of Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) in Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) provides a rigorous analysis of the model power in relation to construct and content validity, confirming the dimension and analyzing the fitness of the data collected in the hypothesized model. This paper provides insight construct and  content analysis using the CFA approach to consider the 15 school values constructs. To achieve the intended research objective, the 15 school values were explored. The results provide evidence that the MSVS achieved sound psychometric properties. The overall reliability value of Cronbach’s Alpha was acceptable. The CFA results showed that the goodness-of-fit indices for the hypothesized model were as follows: x2 (182) = 627.269, p = 0.00, x2/DF = 3.409, GFI = 0.852; AGFI = 0.814, CFI = 0.92; IFI = 0.921, RMSEA = 0.077. Each of the indices was above the threshold value. Results imply that MSVS is a valid measure to describe the school values among high school students. However, more studies are recommended to further validate the scale.


2012 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katariina Salmela-Aro ◽  
Katja Upadaya

This study introduces the Schoolwork Engagement Inventory (EDA), which measures energy, dedication, and absorption with respect to schoolwork. Structural equation modeling was used to assess the validity and reliability of the inventory among students attending postcomprehensive schools. A total of 1,530 (769 girls, 761 boys) students from 13 institutions (six upper-secondary and seven vocational schools) completed the EDA 1 year apart. The results showed that a one-factor solution had the most reliability and fitted best among the younger students, whereas a three-factor solution was most reliable and fit best among the older students. In terms of concurrent validity, depressive symptoms and school burnout were inversely related, and self-esteem and academic achievement were positively associated with EDA. Boys and upper-secondary-school students experienced lower levels of schoolwork engagement than girls and vocational-school students.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 207-218
Author(s):  
Mihaela Grigoraș ◽  
Andreea Butucescu ◽  
Amalia Miulescu ◽  
Cristian Opariuc-Dan ◽  
Dragoș Iliescu

Abstract. Given the fact that most of the dark personality measures are developed based on data collected in low-stake settings, the present study addresses the appropriateness of their use in high-stake contexts. Specifically, we examined item- and scale-level differential functioning of the Short Dark Triad (SD3; Paulhus & Jones, 2011 ) measure across testing contexts. The Short Dark Triad was administered to applicant ( N = 457) and non-applicant ( N = 592) samples. Item- and scale-level invariances were tested using an Item Response Theory (IRT)-based approach and a Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) approach, respectively. Results show that more than half of the SD3 items were flagged for Differential Item Functioning (DIF), and Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling (ESEM) results supported configural, but not metric invariance. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.


2021 ◽  
pp. 088626052110063
Author(s):  
Miriam Junco-Guerrero ◽  
Ana Ruiz-Fernández ◽  
David Cantón-Cortés

Child-to-parent violence (CPV) constitutes a serious social problem due to its short and long-term consequences, which not only directly affect the victim but also generate a rupture of the family system. In this study, direct and indirect effects of exposition to violence within the family, insecurity in the family system (manifested as disengagement and/or preoccupation), and justification of violence on CPV toward mothers and fathers were analyzed with structural equation modeling (SEM). Davies and Cummings emotional security theory (1994) was applied. A total of 904 high school students between 13 and 20 years old participated in this study. Information regarding each participant’s committed CPV was obtained from the Child-to-Parent Aggression Questionnaire. Emotional insecurity was assessed with the Security in the Family System scale. To assess exposition to violence and justification of violence, the Exposure to Violence Questionnaire and Irrational Beliefs Inventory for Adolescents were applied, respectively. Strong relationships between exposition to violence within the family, emotional insecurity, justification of violence, and CPV toward mothers and fathers were observed. The results show that adolescents who are exposed to violence at home are more aggressive in the future. In addition, this relationship is mediated, at least in part, by the justification of violence and emotional insecurity. These results suggest that prevention and treatment of CPV aggressors should focus on improving security within the survivors’ family system as well as modifying attitudes toward violence.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ted C. T. Fong ◽  
Adrian H. Y. Wan ◽  
Venus P. Y. Wong ◽  
Rainbow T. H. Ho

Abstract Background Mindfulness has emerged as an important correlate of well-being in various clinical populations. The present study evaluated the psychometric properties of the 20-item short form of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ-SF) in the Chinese context. Methods The study sample was 127 Chinese colorectal cancer patients who completed the FFMQ-SF and validated physical and mental health measures. Factorial validity of the FFMQ-SF was assessed using Bayesian structural equation modeling (BSEM) via informative priors on cross-loadings and residual covariances. Linear regression analysis examined its convergent validity with the health measures on imputed datasets. Results The five-factor BSEM model with approximate zero cross-loadings and one residual covariance provided an adequate model fit (PPP = 0.07, RMSEA = 0.06, CFI = 0.95). Satisfactory reliability (ω = 0.77–0.85) was found in four of the five facets (except nonjudging). Acting with awareness predicted lower levels of perceived stress, negative affect, anxiety, depression, and illness symptoms (β = − 0.37 to − 0.42) and better quality of life (β = 0.29–0.32). Observing, nonjudging, and nonreacting did not show any significant associations (p > .05) with health measures. Acting with awareness was not significantly correlated (r < 0.15) with the other four facets. Conclusion The present findings provide partial support for the psychometric properties of the FFMQ-SF in colorectal cancer patients. The nonjudging facet showed questionable validity and reliability in the present sample. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to elucidate the viability of FFMQ-SF as a measure of mindfulness facets in cancer patients.


SAGE Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 215824402110223
Author(s):  
Nabia Luqman Siddiquei ◽  
Ruhi Khalid

The present study aimed to develop an indigenous measure of learning styles for e-learners in Pakistan and to establish its psychometric properties. The objectives of the study were attained via three studies. First, the items for the development of the Learning Style Scale for e-Learners (e-LSS) were generated empirically based on a 5-point Likert-type scale. In Study I, the internal consistency and dimensionality of the measure were determined by sampling 360 e-learners aged from 20 to 40 years through a convenient sampling technique, whereas other demographic characteristics were kept in close consideration. For this purpose, exploratory factor analysis was utilized. In Study II of scale development, the factor structure that emerged in Study I was confirmed via confirmatory factor analysis using structural equation modeling. In Study III, the convergent and divergent validities of the newly constructed scale were established by correlating scores with preestablished scale scores that assess the similar construct (i.e., LSS) and with scores on the discriminant construct (i.e., Solving Problems Survey). The sample for this study consisted of 80 e-learners aged from 20 to 40 years. A total of 29 items were confirmed in the final scale with 8 distinctive factors (namely, visual, auditory, kinesthetic, global, analytical, individual, collaborative, and technological type) with sound psychometric properties. To conclude, the newly constructed scale was a significant addition to assess learning styles particularly of e-learners in the context of Pakistan.


2021 ◽  
pp. 136843022098759
Author(s):  
Kristia A. Wantchekon ◽  
Adriana J. Umaña-Taylor ◽  
Elana R. McDermott ◽  
Michael R. Sladek ◽  
Deborah Rivas-Drake ◽  
...  

The current cross-sectional study examined how adolescents’ appraisal of how positively others viewed their ethnic-racial group (i.e., public regard) and how integral their ethnic-racial background was to their self-concept (i.e., centrality) related to their intergroup contact approach and avoidance attitudes. Participants were Black, Latinx, and White high school students ( N = 2,609; Mage = 16.39, SD = 1.16; 52% female) from the U.S. Southwest and Midwest. Utilizing multigroup structural equation modeling, results indicated that across all ethnic-racial backgrounds, and regardless of geographical context, public regard was positively associated with approach attitudes. Conversely, findings for avoidance attitudes varied by ethnic-racial background. Specifically, public regard was negatively associated with avoidance attitudes for White adolescents, whereas this relation was null for Black and Latinx adolescents. Additionally, although centrality was positively associated with avoidance attitudes among all adolescents, the relation was stronger among White adolescents than among Black and Latinx adolescents.


Author(s):  
Fatma Alkan

The study aimed to investigate how high school students' achievement goal orientation, positive teacher behaviour, classroom engagement, gender and class perceptions are related to chemistry motivation. The research was designed using relational survey model. The sample consisted of 688 high school students. Chemistry motivation questionnaire, achievement goal orientations scale, positive teacher behaviours scale and classroom engagement inventory were used as data collection tools. The correlations between the variables were examined using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Results showed that there were positive and significant correlations between chemistry motivation and achievement goal orientations, achievement goal orientations and positive teacher behaviours, classroom engagement and positive teacher behaviours. Negative and significant correlations were also found to exist between achievement goal orientation and classroom engagement, positive teacher behaviours and chemistry motivation. Achievement goal orientations and positive teacher behaviours were also found to be significantly related to class engagement.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document