Reliability and Validity of the Activity Participation Assessment for School-age Children in Korea

Abstract

Objective: This pilot study examined the internal consistency, test–retest reliability, construct validity, and discriminant validity of the Activity Participation Assessment (APA) for school-age children in Korea. Methods: The construct validity of the APA was first established by factor analysis on the response of 134 nondisabled children. Internal consistency was evaluated for each of the factors. A test–retest study was conducted on 22 nondisabled children. Discriminant validity was established by comparing the participation of 56 nondisabled children and 56 children with intellectual disabilities and examining sex differences of 61 boys and 61 girls. Results: Analysis of the APA revealed five factors, which were labeled as instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), sports and outdoor activities, hobbies and school activities, social activities, and personal care. The factors showed acceptable levels of internal reliability (Cronbach's alpha = .63–.89). The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for the five factors were all in the good range (ICC = .86–.92). We found statistically significant difference between nondisabled children and children with intellectual disabilities in five factors. We also found that girls participated in significantly more IADL, hobbies and school activities, and social activities. However, boys participated in significantly more sports and outdoor activities. Conclusion: The APA shows good internal reliability, test–retest reliability, discriminant validity, and construct validity. However, evidence of psychometric properties was limited by a small sample size. Psychometric properties such as interrater reliability as well as concurrent validity and construct validity need to be tested using a larger sample size with representative demographics.

Keywords

• assessment
• participation
• school-age children