Middle Eastern Journal of Disability Studies

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Sarrami L, Ghasemi A, Arabameri E, Kashi A. Psychometric properties of movement assessment battery for children-2 in 3-6 years old children in Isfahan. MEJDS 2019; 9 :92-92
URL: http://jdisabilstud.org/article-1-1123-en.html

Background & Objective: Movement assessment battery for children (MABC) is one of the most used assessment to distinguish children with movement difficulties. First edition of this assessment tool published in 1992 by Henderson and Sugden. In 2007, the second edition of a movement assessment battery for children–2 (MABC2) published and believed to have more strengthened psychometric properties. In this issue, a large body of literature has been conducted to assess the reliability and validity of this version of the assessment tool. However, most of these studies have been conducted in European, North American, and Far Eastern countries. Given this limitation, this study aimed to explore the psychometric properties of MABC2 in 3 – 6 years Old Iranian children.
Methods: Three hundred and eighty four typically developing 3 – 6 years old children (female=157, male=227) completed the test. The samples were selected from Isfahan (Isfahan province, Iran). All children`s parents were asked to fill out demographic questionnaire and announce their written agreement. Verbal agreement were also received from children. The institutional review board of the corresponding author’s university approved this study. All the criteria for performing the test were provided according to the manual test. At the beginning of the test, each participant was briefly introduced to the test. Four assessors with at least 5 years' experience of testing performed the test. For interrater reliability, 56 children were assessed by two examiner, while one assessor performed the test and scored. For interrater design, same assessor tested 57 children in a one to two weeks interval. For inter and intra test reliability, intra class correlation coefficient (ICC) and standard error of mean (SEM) were used. Internal consistency of the test was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha. Structural validity of the test were also evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis. Fit indices were chosen based on Hu and Bentler (1999) suggestion as followed; X2/df, RMSEA, RMR, CFI, GFI and NNFI. All the statistical analysis were set at 0.05. All data were analyzed using SPSS for Windows and LISREL 8. 
Results: Descriptive statistic showed a similar standard score of Iranian children to normative sample. Cronbach’s alpha showed that it was in a good range (p=0.80). Also all correlation among tasks and total score were significant (p<0.05). Results for inter and intra correlation coefficient was satisfying. ICC for interrater was excellent, between 0.93 – 0.99, and for interrater was in a good range (0.71–0.89). ICC for total test score were also excellent, for interrater (0.96) and good for intrarater (0.79). Data from confirmatory factor analysis affirmed three components model, including manual dexterity, aiming and catching and balance to be well fitted. All the fit indices were well fitted (χ²/df=2.7, df=31, sig=<0.001, NNFI=0.93, CFI=0.93, GFI=0.92, RMSEA=0.071, RMR=0.080). Factor loading of all eight tasks on relative component were significant (0.31–0.82). Correlation between three components were also significant, but moderate.
Conclusion: The primary issue investigated in this study was to explore psychometric properties of movement assessment battery for children –2 in a new context of cultural setting in Iran. Results of this study revealed its reliability features were good. This data proof that MABC2 is able to reproduce reliable scores among 3–6 years Old Iranian children. In addition, no any task, which destroy construct of test, were not seen. While some of studies in different countries reported a problematic structure of MABC2 which may need some adjustment, our findings affirmed proposed three components test structure–manual dexterity, aiming and catching and balance–with related test items.