Factor analysis of a test of acrobatics and balance

The test, Acrobatics and Balance, was developed by Robazza and Bortoli to assess gross motor skills related to acrobatics and balance of high school students. This study was conducted to examine the factor structure of the test using exploratory and confirmatory factor-analytic techniques. The test was administered to 493 Italian high school boys, ages 14 to 16 years (M=14.9, SD=.7), during physical education lessons. The sample was then randomly split into two groups. Principal axis factor analysis on Group 1, followed by oblimin rotation, yielded three factors accounting for 53.1% of variance. A two-factor solution was then specified including acrobatics and balance items. Confirmatory factor analysis on Group 2 lent support to a two-factor structure (GFI=.92, NNFI=.91, CFI=.94, and RMSEA=.05). Acceptable internal consistency of test and subscales was also shown. Overall findings warrant the adoption of this tool in the educational domain.